TRENTON (1010 WINS) – Gyms, health clubs and indoor amusement facilities in New Jersey will be allowed to reopen at reduced capacity in September, Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday.
All of those venues will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity starting Sept. 1, Murphy said at a news briefing Wednesday afternoon.
"Gyms are among the most challenging indoor environments to prevent COVID-19 transmission," he said. "But, given where we are in this fight, we believe we are ready to take the next step forward. Thank you to our many gym owners and gym members who have helped us crush the curve."
Group fitness classes at gyms and health clubs will be limited to one person per 200 square feet, Murphy said. All members and staff will be required to wear masks, and pieces of athletic equipment will have to be spaced at least six feet apart, he added.
Gyms across the state have been allowed to offer “individualized training sessions by appointment” since early July, but have otherwised remained closed.
Murphy on Wednesday also reported 288 new COVID-19 cases and 11 new deaths, bringing the state’s cumulative total to 190,306 and its death toll to 14,134. The state is also investigating 1,780 probable deaths.
As of Tuesday, 425 people in the state were hospitalized with confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, 72 of whom were in intensive care units and 29 of whom were on ventilators.
The ongoing closure of gyms amid the coronavirus pandemic has been a flashpoint in New Jersey. The Atilis gym in Bellmawr has made national headlines for repeatedly defying Murphy's shutdown orders and reopening multiple times.
The owners of the gym were fined nearly $130,000 earlier this month for staying open despite a court order. The gym owners were also arrested late last month on contempt charges but reopened less than a week later. They said they had taken safety precautions at the gym, including social distancing, and that the state orders violate their constitutional rights.
On Monday, gyms across New York state were allowed to reopen at 33 percent capacity with coronavirus restrictions like mandatory masks. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said local officials are allowed to make the final call; New York City gyms won't be allowed to reopen before Sept. 2, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.