BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Gyms throughout New York State are eligible to reopen its doors Monday for the first time in months.
Governor Andrew Cuomo last week gave gyms and fitness centers the green light to reopen with restrictions as early as August 24. For most gyms in Western New York, health officials allowed them to open.
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"I'm excited to reopen and to prove we are safe and we are essential and that we are not a higher risk than any other business," she said. "...I'm just frustrated with the mandates that have been put into place for gyms specifically that other businesses haven't had to worry about, like the HVAC units and some other things. It's a mixed-bag of emotions, but mostly excited to see our members again."
Much like malls, gyms were forced to upgrade their HVAC systems. The governor's guidelines calls for a filtration at a minimum of MERV-13, or industry equivalent or greater.
"We actually reached out to HVAC contractors when this first came up and had them look at our units and do the maintenance on them," Dix added. "We just had the MERV-13 filters put in (last week)."
Not all gyms are opening up on Monday, though they are eligible to do so in Erie County. YMCA Buffalo Niagara President and CEO John Ehrbar said their locations will open up Thursday.
"We have what's called 'wellness coaches'," Ehrbar said. "They're pretty much going to be wellness referees to help make sure things stay clean and people to stay apart. We'll always have these areas staffed in our facilities."
He isn't expecting the gyms to reach their maximum capacity. Ehrbar said there was a trickle of people who returned to gyms at other YMCA locations and expects a similar result at their local locations.