KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — Gyms and fitness centers across Michigan are set to reopen today, but they will be required to follow strict guidelines in order to stay open.
Under Executive Order 2020-176, these businesses are now allowed to open in some capacity and must follow state guidelines. While indoor services are allowed at 25% capacity, the executive order strongly suggests utilizing outdoor fitness classes when feasible – ensuring social distancing and that equipment and supplies are shared to the minimum extent possible, and are subject to frequent and thorough disinfection and cleaning.
Guidelines that facilities must follow in preventing exposure to COVID-19 include, but are not limited to the following:
- Maintain accurate records, including date and time of entry and exit, names of patrons and contact information, to aid with contact tracing; and deny entry to any visitor who does not provide at a minimum their name and phone number.
- To the extent feasible, configure workout stations or implement protocols to enable six feet of distance between individuals during exercise sessions.
- Indoor class sizes must be reduced to ten or less.
- Limit capacity in the facility to 25% of the total occupancy limits.
- Mandate wearing of facial coverings at all times except when swimming. Face shields are not sufficient.
- Regularly disinfect exercise equipment, including immediately after use. If patrons are expected to disinfect, post signs encouraging patrons to disinfect equipment.
- Ensure that ventilation systems operate properly.
- Close steam rooms and saunas, jacuzzies and cold plunge pools.
Locally, Kalamazoo gym officials have been preparing for their own reopening plans amid the pandemic, which includes both health and sanitation precautions.
Endurance Fitness is one facility reopening under the new guidelines.
“We are obviously requiring masks in order to enter the building,” General Manager of Endurance Fitness Christi Underwood said in an interview. “We are taking temperatures of our staff to make sure they are healthy. We are implementing extra cleaning, including possibly doing some electrostatic cleaning here. We have extra hand sanitizing stations, we have switched the product that we use in our sanitation bottles for wiping down machines to an antimicrobial agent to make sure the machines are getting sanitized properly.”
However, Underwood says gym members will have to do their part in order to help keep the equipment clean. Reduced capacity and social distancing measures are also in place.
“Everyone is required to wipe down their machines, as well as the staff that’s gonna be doing walkthroughs several times a day making every that everything is clean,” Underwood said. “We are limiting hours, as well as only opening at 25% capacity to keep things a little bit slower. We are requiring people to be six feet apart, even during classes and things like that.”
Underwood adds that some services, such as 24 hour availability and the daycare are still suspended at this time. Some machines are also blocked off to maintain social distancing.
Weights at a gym. (Photo by Jeana Gondek).
Elsewhere in Kalamazoo, health officials from Bronson Hospital are providing tips for working out under these guidelines.
Bronson Sports Medicine Physician Stacy Majoras said in an interview with WKZO that both athletes and gym participants should continue following safety guidelines as written.
“They should be taking the same precautions as everyone else,” Majoras said. “They should be trying to maintain their social distance at six feet or longer. They should be washing their hands as much as possible, if they can’t wash their hands, they should use hand sanitizer, and they should be wearing a mask when it is appropriate. We just have to follow the recommendations that are current and do what we need to do to keep everyone safe.”
On Tuesday, Vice Chair of the Michigan Fitness Club Association Alyssa Tushman told WOOD TV 8 that people working out in masks should start off slow in their workouts in order to avoid overexertion. She also said that extra precautions, such as wearing a heart rate monitor and monitoring physical signs, should be utilized in these facilities.
Officials with the State of Michigan are also weighing in on the reopenings.
“It is critical for businesses reopening their doors to take every precaution to protect the health and safety of their workers, customers, and our communities,” COVID-19 Workplace Safety Director Sean Egan said in a statement. “Our goal is to make this process as easy as possible for businesses and ensure they have the tools and resources necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Violation of these orders can create risks to workers and the public.”
Businesses failing to comply with these orders may be subject up to $7,000 general industry safety fines from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) and penalties from local law enforcement or health departments.
Anyone with questions regarding workplace safety and health may contact MIOSHA using the new hotline at 855-SAFE-C19 (855-723-3219).
To report health and safety concerns in the workplace, go to Michigan.gov/MIOSHAcomplaint.
Hours and opening days may vary by gym. Members should contact their local fitness center of choice for more information.
