Erie County issues gym reopening guidance

An empty Catalyst Fitness in Amherst. August 6, 2020 (WBEN Photo/Mike Baggerman)
Photo credit An empty Catalyst Fitness in Amherst. August 6, 2020 (WBEN Photo/Mike Baggerman)

Buffalo, NY (WBEN) The Erie County Health Department has released guidance for the upcoming reopening for gyms starting Monday.

The county says fitness facilities must ensure they are following mandated NYS guidelines: https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/Gyms_and_Fitness_Centers_Detailed_Guidelines.pdf

ECDOH will be conducting inspections of the following facilities:

- Stand alone gyms

- Gyms located inside hotels

- Gyms located inside apartment/condo facilities

- Gyms located inside office buildings

- Yoga/pilates/barre studios

- Group fitness classes (spinning, dancing, rowing)

- Dance facilities/studios

- Boxing/kickboxing/martial arts studios

- Fitness boot camps, cross fit camps or other plyometric boxes

 

Each facility will be required to provide the following:

 

  • Proof from a HVAC company that the HVAC system has been evaluated, that the appropriate filters are in place per the guidance or that additional measures have been implemented as per the guidance. It should be noted that failure to provide this documentation will result in the facility being closed until such time as the work is completed.
  • A copy of the NY Forward safety plan completed by the facility on site for review.
  • Agreement that communal uses of equipment and spaces, which create the highest risk for infection, must be discontinued (communal showers, hot tubs, water fountains, etc.) If they are in use the facility may be subject to closure or fines and they will have to provide an updated safety plan for correction.
  • No obvious egregious violations of capacity limitations, approved face mask use and physical distancing. If sanitarians find that the operator is not following or enforcing the rules in their business, they could be subject to fines and closure.
  • Acknowledgement by ECDOH that the facility is operating in compliance with the NYS guidelines on screening, on-site activities, protective equipment, and hygiene, cleaning and disinfection practices.

 

If a facility includes a swimming pool, the pool must have a satisfactory inspection by ECDOH prior to opening.

 “Thorough inspections of each facility is an important step in our continued response to the COVID-19 global pandemic,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “We want to ensure that the users of each one of these locations and their employees will be able to be as safe as possible."