gyms

Can Gyms Stay Open Under California’s New Stay-At-Home Order?

By Diana J. Smith 1 month ago

CALIFORNIA — Californians who were hoping to workout enclosed by the warmth of an indoor gym this winter will have to wait until coronavirus cases subside in the Golden State. Beginning Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new regional stay-at-home order bans fitness centers from operating indoors.

The order will affect some 33 million Californias for at least three weeks and will force many business sectors to close, including dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, zoos, museums and playgrounds — whether they’re indoor or outdoor.

As for gyms and fitness centers, outdoor operations may continue under the order as long as COVID-19 safety guidelines are met. Under the new restrictions, outdoor exercise can occur in groups no larger than 12, according to the state’s guidelines.

“Gyms in counties in a region that is impacted by the order must stop indoor operations,” California’s website states. “Outdoor gyms meet the essential workforce definition of an

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Las Vegas gyms ready to comply with new COVID restrictions

By Diana J. Smith 2 months ago

The new 25 percent capacity limit at gyms and fitness centers doesn’t concern the general managers who spoke with the Review-Journal, and they say the new requirements to wear a mask even while exercising shouldn’t worry you.

Both measures are effective as of 12:01 a.m. Tuesday as part of Gov. Steve Sisolak’s three-week pause.

“I did it today for the first time,” said Steve Datte, senior general manager of Life Time Summerlin. “I wore my mask during my entire workout. … It was tolerable, and I’m a baby when it comes to this stuff. I got through it, and it was OK.”

The key, he said, is choosing a mask that’s breathable. Around 15 percent of the people on his fitness floor already were keeping their masks on throughout their workouts.

On Monday afternoon, all but one member was wearing a mask while exercising at the Anytime Fitness at

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Planet Fitness to require members to wear face masks while working out in gyms

By Diana J. Smith 6 months ago

One of the largest gym chains in the United States will soon require members to wear face masks.

The decision by Planet Fitness will go into effect Aug. 1 at its 1,450 locations that are open in the U.S., Canada and Australia.

Planet Fitness chief executive Chris Rondeau said in a statement gyms are part of the solution in the global coronavirus crisis.

“Given our leadership position within the industry, we believe it’s our responsibility to further protect our members, employees, and communities so that we can all safely focus on our health, which is more important now than ever before,” Rondeau stated.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged Americans to wear face coverings in public settings to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Many major retailers, including Walmart, Target and Kohl’s now require customers to wear face masks, McClatchy News reported.

Planet Fitness says it

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New Life For Gyms, Fitness Facilities Outdoors In East Hampton

By Diana J. Smith 6 months ago

EAST HAMPTON, NY — Gym owners struggling during the coronavirus crisis in in East Hampton may soon get a much-needed boost from town officials.

Established East Hampton fitness and exercise studios, which have been financially affected by the shutdown during the pandemic, will see hope on the horizon with the adoption Friday of a temporary provision allowing them to hold outdoor exercise classes on a separate commercial property, with the property owner’s permission, a release from East Hampton Town Supervisor Peter Van Scoyoc said.

The town code as written restricts the use of outdoor areas on commercial properties.

An executive order signed Friday by Van Scoyoc includes a measure that will temporarily relax a portion of the town code to allow fitness businesses to apply for a permit to hold offsite outdoor classes, provided social distancing, group size restrictions, and rules regarding face masks are followed.

The permit application can

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