Gyms in New York, which have remained in place for months, even as the state made progress in fighting the coronavirus, will be allowed to reopen as soon as Aug. 24 and no later than Sept. 2, said Gov. Andrew M Cuomo on Monday.
Mr. Cuomo’s announcement came with several caveats: Gyms would be limited to a third of their total capacity, and people would be required to wear masks at all times. The state would also require a sign-up form to assist with contact tracing efforts.
Local governments will also need to inspect gyms to ensure they meet state requirements before they open or within two weeks of their opening. Local governments can stop holding gymnastics classes from indoor classes, Mr Cuomo said.
The decision marked an important step forward in the state’s return to the pre-pandemic status quo, even as officials have raised concerns about a second wave of the virus.
Gyms and fitness centers have been closed in New York City since March 16, and statewide since March 22. Even though the entire state had been relocated by mid-July in the fourth and final stage of Mr Cuomo’s reopening plan, officials ordered gyms to remain closed worrying that the virus could spread more easily within them.
“We know gyms are very problematic from the other states,” Mr Cuomo said earlier this month as business around the country grew and kept New York’s outbreak under control.
Health experts are concerned that intense exercise can pose significant risks, both from activity that produces higher concentrations of the virus and from equipment that is frequently attacked. Health associations in New Mexico and California have been linked to a small number of virus cases.
Epidemiologists have also said they believe the risk of transmission is higher indoors, prompting Mr Cuomo in June to close gyms, such as cinemas, shopping malls and bowling alleys.
Similar concerns also prompted state officials to add overcooked food in close and crowded New York City, even though they allowed it elsewhere in the state.
Although some companies and trainers have tried to adapt to regulation by moving lessons or sessions outside, struggling gym owners have been frustrated by the state’s decision for weeks. More than 1,500 of them are joining a class action lawsuit filed last week that was intended to force New York to reopen. A hearing is scheduled in the case for Thursday, according to court records.
The NYS Fitness Alliance, a sector group representing more than 2,700 facilities statewide, had resubmitted reopening recommendations to the governor’s office calling for gyms to open at 50 percent capacity and only wearing masks when people were not practice, as some states have done.
Mr Cuomo said the state’s guidelines were drawn up following talks with health officials and after examining opening guidelines in the rest of the country.
“We are ready to uphold the protocol they implement,” said Bill Lia, president of the NYS Fitness Alliance and owner of four gyms in the Albany area. “We are excited to get our employees back to work and get back on track to help our members.”
Mr. Lia said managing capacity would not be a big hurdle because most gyms already need customers to check in. Some national gyms that have locations in New York need former gymnasts to make appointments.
Mr. Lia said it was unclear how many gyms have been permanently closed in New York due to the pandemic. But he noted that smaller, independent facilities were disproportionately affected by the constraints compared to larger operators who might have incurred better losses.
“There will definitely be some fallout in the sector,” he said.
Gyms are also closed in New Jersey, except for private personal training sessions, though Gov. Philip D. Murphy said on Friday that officials discussed whether and when they could be reopened. Connecticut reopened fitness centers in June, with borders.
At least 43 states and Washington, DC, have allowed gyms to reopen in some or all parts of the state, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, a non-profit trading group.
The coronavirus breaks out>
Frequently Asked Questions
Updated August 17, 2020
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Why does standing six feet apart help others?
- The coronavirus spreads primarily by drips from your mouth and nose, especially when you cough or sneeze. The CDC, one of the organizations using that measure, bases its six-foot recommendation on the idea that most large drops that expel people when they cough or sneeze fall within six feet to the ground. But six feet has never been a magic number that guarantees complete protection. Noses, for example, can launch drops much farther than six feet, according to a recent study. It’s a rule of thumb: you need to be the safest to stand six feet apart, especially when the wind is blowing. But always wear a mask, even if you think you are far enough apart.
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I have antibodies. Am I immune now?
- At the moment, that probably seems like at least several months. There have been horrific accounts of people suffering from what appears to be a second bolt of Covid-19. But experts say these patients may have a prolonged course of infection, with the virus taking a slow toll weeks to months after initial exposure. People infected with the coronavirus typically produce immune molecules called antibodies, which are protective proteins made in response to an infection. These antibodies may only last two to three months in the body, which may seem worrying, but that is perfectly normal after an acute infection progresses, said Dr. Michael Mina, an immunologist at Harvard University. It could possibly get the coronavirus back up, but it is highly unlikely that it would be possible in a short window of time from initial infection or the second time safe.
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I am a small business owner. Can I get relief?
- The incentive bills introduced in March provide assistance to the millions of American small businesses. Those eligible for support are non-profit companies and organizations with less than 500 workers, including sole proprietorships, independent contractors and freelancers. Some larger companies in some sectors are also eligible. The assistance provided, which is managed by the Small Business Administration, includes the Paycheck Protection Program and the Economic Damage Disaster Program. But many people have not seen payments yet. Even those who have received help are confused: the rules are draconian, and some are stuck on money they do not know how to use. Many small business owners get less than they expected or heard nothing at all.
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What are my rights if I am worried about returning to work?
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What will school look like in September?
- It is unlikely that many schools will return to a regular schedule this fall, requiring the grinding of online learning, easy childcare and stunted workdays to continue. The two largest public school districts of California – Los Angeles and San Diego – said on July 13 that instruction will be remote only in the fall, citing concerns that growing coronavirus infections in their areas pose too great a risk to students and teachers. Together, the two districts enroll about 825,000 students. They are the largest in the country to date to abandon plans for even a partial physical return to classes when they reopen in August. For other districts, the solution will not be an all-or-nothing approach. Many systems, including the nation’s largest, New York City, are creating hybrid plans that include some days attending classrooms and other days online. There is no national policy yet, so check regularly with your municipal school system to see what is happening in your municipality.
Mr. Cuomo said on Monday that gyms would be allowed to reopen because New York has successfully maintained its rate of positive test rates for coronavirus since June since 1 percent.
However, Mr Cuomo said he remained concerned that reopening gyms could accelerate the spread of the virus. He said his main concern was that local governments would not adequately enforce the state’s restrictions, noting, as he has said before, how many towns and cities have not aggressively ignored bars and restaurants on distance measures.
It was not immediately clear when New York City would clear gyms for redevelopment, as to which agency would be responsible for conducting inspections or enforcing regulations.
Mitch Schwartz, a spokeswoman for Mayor Bill de Blasio, said the city would develop its inspection system in the coming weeks, but that it did not plan to allow fitness classes first when gyms reopened.
In addition to gyms, the state has flooded movie theaters, casinos and amusement parks. Mr Cuomo did not say when he believed these companies could resume, but said officials were continuing with the assessment of the risks involved.
“We are saying today that gyms for New Yorkers are more essential than cinemas,” Mr Cuomo said on Monday.
Last week, Mr. Cuomo announced that museums and other cultural institutions in New York City, which remained closed, even as their counterparts reopened in the rest of the state, were allowed to reopen on August 24, at 25 percent capacity and with timed ticketing.
Last week, Mr Cuomo gave bowling lanes nationwide the green light to reopen with strict protocols in place: Any other lane is meant to be blocked due to social distance, and bowling equipment needs to be properly rehabilitated.
The easing of restrictions comes as the city has managed for weeks to maintain low rates of infections, surprisingly even top officials. As of Monday, infection status has hovered below 1 percent nationally in the last 10 days.
However, state and city officials have promoted a potential second wave, and were increasingly concerned about New Yorkers satisfying themselves about social distance and about travelers spreading the virus. Travelers from more than 30 states, plus Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, must be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in New York.
But epidemiologists fear that the travel restrictions may not be enough to stop the virus, and that reopening more covered institutions could provide additional grounds for it to spread.
Tracey Tully contributed reporting.
