Gyms and personal care services such as salons are no longer considered one of the major transmitters of COVID-19, according to the state’s latest public
health data.
As a result of that, such businesses operating within a COVID-19 micro-cluster Orange Zone can now continue to operate under new restrictions.
Gyms and personal care services were originally higher risk environments for viral transmission, but the data shows that the rate of spread has been reduced
in businesses that are operating in accordance with the New York State Department of Health’sNew York Forward guidance.
“We have been setting rules that make sense for everyone, and it is basically all common sense,” Cuomo said. “We’re also calibrating the risk level of the economic activity to ensure we are respecting public health, while limiting economic disruption to the extent possible. This pandemic has required
us to stay nimble from the very beginning and we will continue to follow the data to make smart, informed decisions.”
Following the state’s principles of recalibration and balancing public health measures with economic impact, businesses that are within orange zones may operate with additional service restrictions, starting Monday, Dec. 14. Specifically, gyms and fitness centers—which are currently closed in orange zones—will be allowed to operate at 25% capacity, reduced from 33%. Personal care services—for example, salons and barbershops which are also currently closed in orange zones—will be allowed to provide services so long as the employees performing services are tested for COVID-19 on a weekly basis, and obtain a negative
test result prior to opening.
For gyms, in particular, it has been a trying year after being shuttered in mid-March, and only receiving authorization from Cuomo to resume operations in
late August. The lengthy closure was due to the belief that gyms and fitness centers were a high source of COVID-19 spread.
Therefore, before gyms were allowed to reopen throughout the state, several new protocols were put into effect.
In order to reopen, gyms and fitness centers were required to restrict capacity to 33%; a mandatory mask requirement, at all times, was put into place; members have to provide contact information when signing in and allow for a mandatory health screening; gym goers must maintain 6-feet of social distancing;
water fountains were turned off; gyms that offer classes will be by reservation or appointment only; staff must clean and disinfect equipment after every use;
cleaning and disinfecting supplies must also be available to customers; and every gym must have their ventilation system of a certain grade.
-Reporting by Christian Falcone
