NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Gov. Cuomo on Monday said gyms in New York state may reopen at 33 percent capacity as soon as Aug. 24 -- but it's unclear if NYC gyms will open that soon.
There will be a mask mandate along with ventilation requirements.
In New York City, Mayor Bill de Blasio will determine whether gyms and fitness centers should postpone reopening. De Blasio may also decide to opt-out of indoor group fitness and aquatic classes, postponing their resumption until a later date.
A de Blasio spokesman told NBC New York in a statement, "There’s no higher priority than making sure our schools and child care centers are safe for learning in the fall, and the city’s dedicated team of inspectors will continue prioritizing that work. While indoor fitness classes and indoor pools will not be opening at this time, we’ll be developing a fair and rigorous inspection system for other gym setups in the coming weeks."
A city official told NBC New York that based on the aforementioned statement, it's unlikely New York City gyms will open on Aug. 24.
Local health departments must inspect gyms prior to reopening, or within two weeks of reopening, to ensure strict adherence to Department of Health guidance.
Localities must determine whether or not to open them by Sept. 2, Cuomo added.
There has to be a sign in form to know exactly who's coming into the gym in case there's a positive "you can easily contract trace back," Secretary to the Governor Melissa de Rosa said.
She also added that state regulations will be recommending that gyms also do screenings at the door.
Guidance for Gyms and Fitness Centers
Capacity: 33% occupancy limit.
Access: Sign-in with contact information and health screening required.
PPE: Appropriate face coverings required at all times.
Distancing: 6 feet of separation at all times.
Hygiene/Cleaning: Cleaning and disinfection supplies made available to customers; shared equipment cleaned after every use; staff must also be available to clean and disinfect equipment in between uses; rental equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between customer use.
Classes: By appointment/reservation only; maximum class capacity capped at number of people that can adhere to the 6-feet social distancing rules, but in no case more than 33% of the typical class size (i.e., leave stations, cycles, etc. vacant); classes should be scheduled to allow additional time for cleaning and disinfection in between each session.
Amenities: Water bottle refill stations permitted, but not shared water fountains; communal showers are closed, but individual showers/stalls can remain open so long as they are cleaned in between use.
Air Handling Systems: Gyms should operate at MERV-13 or greater; if they are unable to operate at that level, they must have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional document their inability to do so and adopt additional ventilation and mitigation protocols from American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Inspection: Local health departments shall inspect before or within two weeks of the gym/fitness center opening to ensure compliance.
Gyms were excluded from Phase 4 of the state’s reopening, prompting over 1,000 of those gyms to file a lawsuit to demand a reopening, arguing that their facilities are clean and safe for their members and employees.