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Even as gyms partially reopen, fitness companies face an uphill climb

Face down in a prison yard, with bullets zipping over his head and a riot broiling all around him, Don Dickerson committed to start living a clean life that would make a positive impact on the community.

He’s made good on that promise, helping Fitness SF expand to eight gyms that promote physical and mental health in the Bay Area and serving on a series of nonprofit boards that provide amity in a variety of sectors.

But after 16-plus years as the director of operations and then vice president of Fitness SF, Dickerson can’t help but feel as though he’s been forced back to lying in the dirt as chaos surrounds him.

Like so many other businesses in San Francisco, Fitness SF is at a crisis point. If city officials do not start responding to the virus in a data-driven manner, the fitness industry will be nothing but a memory.

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Fitness
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Gyms, fitness centers, pools reopen | Lifestyles

 Area gyms, fitness centers and pools were allowed to reopen Wednesday, Sept. 9. This comes after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-176 on Thursday, Sept. 3.

 In addition to gyms being allowed to open their doors, organized sports were allowed to resume.

 Whitmer also signed an executive order that outlines strict workplace safety measures that gyms and pools must follow to protect people from the spread of COVID-19.

 Gyms must require wearing of masks at all times, including times of exercise, configure workout stations or implement protocols to enable 6 feet of distance between individuals during exercise sessions, reduce class sizes to enable at least 6 feet of separation between individuals, provide equipment-cleaning products throughout the gym, and more.  

 Planet Fitness on Owen Road in Fenton reopened Wednesday. Employees at the Fenton location have worked hard to welcome guests back and to provide a clean, sanitary and judgment free

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Fitness
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As North Carolina Starts to Reopen, Gyms and Fitness Centers Remain Closed. What’s Next?

Dew was still fresh on the grass as Dana Harshaw set out evenly-spaced number tiles across a driveway one Saturday morning in Chapel Hill.

“Everybody’s spaced at least six feet apart,” she said. “We provide hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes if anybody needs it, but everybody brings their own props. We’re not providing props to anybody right now.”

Harshaw, the owner of Barre3 Chapel Hill, is one of dozens of fitness center owners in Orange County trying to keep business afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.

Gyms and fitness centers within North Carolina have been closed since March 16 following executive orders from Governor Roy Cooper. Phase 3 of the state’s reopening, which would allow gyms to open their doors, has been delayed three times now.

For several months, fitness center owners like Harshaw have been adapting to the changing landscape. Her business started off by offering online classes, but transitioned

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Fitness
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Gyms, fitness centers can reopen next week | News

Gyms and fitness centers can reopen next week at a limited capacity, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Thursday.

Under the latest executive order, gyms and pools can reopen at a 25 percent capacity starting Wednesday with strict protocols in place. Among the restrictions includes wearing masks at all times and maintaining six feet between workout stations and individuals participating in classes.

“Throughout this pandemic, we have followed the best science and data available to make decisions that will keep Michiganders safe, and our hard work is paying off,” Whitmer said in a news release. “…I urge everyone who plans to hit the gym after these orders go into effect to take these precautions seriously and do everything in their power to protect themselves and their families.”

An added caveat to the restrictions is that gym attendees must provide their name and phone number.

Whitmer’s administration has hinted at reopening gyms and

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Fitness
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Gyms, fitness centers start to reopen after official announcement by governor | News

Gyms and fitness centers officially reopen their doors to patrons for the first time in almost six months.

Even though gyms can legally reopen, many fitness centers are still preparing to let customers back in.

“It’s great being back open and seeing all the regulars. Being able to see some friendly faces back in the club,” said Alex Marion, manager at Burton Planet Fitness.

It’s been a long six months for people like Marion.

On Wednesday, Sept. 9, Marion was able to reopen to the public.

Strict safety measures will be in place to limit the spread of COVID-19, including requiring all gym-goers to wear masks always and limiting the capacity to 25 percent.

Marion said staff has been fully trained on how to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

“We’ve increased our cleaning standards. We are using disinfectant that’s on the EPA’s list of cleaners that are able to treat

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Fitness
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SLO County’s Kennedy Club Fitness calls for gyms to reopen

Kennedy Club Fitness has had to lay off, terminate or furlough “hundreds of employees” across San Luis Obispo County amid the ongoing COVID-19 business restrictions, leaving the gym in dire straits.

Now, the local chain is hoping to generate community support and return to the state’s original guidelines for fitness facilities since coronavirus arrived.

The health and fitness company — which has four SLO County locations, in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero and Arroyo Grande — said it has suffered sharp business impacts that could affect more jobs in the near future, as well as the services it provides its customers.

“We need your support and understanding, especially in the next 30-60 days, as we move forward out of the current situation we are in,” said Brett Weaver, Kennedy Club’s managing partner, in a letter submitted to The Tribune. “If we don’t get back to operating business under the

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Fitness
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ECDOH providing inspections to gyms, fitness centers seeking to reopen

Following Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement on Monday that gyms can reopen next week at 33 percent capacity, the Erie County Department of Health announced that it will be providing inspections to local facilities that are seeking to reopen.



Gyms Allowed To Reopen At 33 Percent Capacity

© Provided by WGRZ-TV Buffalo
Gyms Allowed To Reopen At 33 Percent Capacity

The department of health says fitness centers and gyms that wish to reopen are required to review NY Forward guidelines, and must affirm that their business will follow those regulations prior to opening. Those guidelines can be found online here.

Each gym must submit a request form to the Erie County Department of Health so a public health sanitarian can schedule an inspection at the facility. The department of health says inspections will be scheduled as soon as it is practical. Those looking to fill out an inspection request form can do so here.

The Erie County Department of

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Fitness
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Ducey seeks to void ruling that would let Arizona gyms reopen | Local news

Gov. Doug Ducey has appealed a judge’s decision that could require the state to allow fitness centers to reopen by next week. Photo from May 2020.



Rebecca Sasnett / Arizona Daily Star


PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey is moving to deny gyms and fitness centers the right to reopen despite a court order to the contrary.

In new legal briefs, the governor wants the state Court of Appeals to void Tuesday’s ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason ordering him to provide them a chance to prove they can operate safely. Ducey is arguing that forcing the state to let gyms reopen before he and health officials believe it is appropriate could result in “death, serious physical illness, and a lack of hospital beds.”

And if that message is lost on the appellate judges, the private attorneys hired by the governor warned of dire consequences if they do

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Fitness
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Gyms still waiting to reopen; outdoor rally planned in Amherst

Catalyst Fitness will host a rally at its Maple Road location in Amherst on Thursday, calling on Gov. Cuomo to allow fitness centers to reopen.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Gyms across New York State are still waiting to learn when they can reopen from COVID-19 shutdowns.

On Thursday, 15 fitness clubs throughout the state will hold outdoor rallies at the same time to call on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allow them to open back up.

The rallies will be hosted by the New York State Fitness Alliance, a group created to help accelerate the safe reopening of fitness centers.

Here in Western New York, Catalyst Fitness will be hosting a rally at its Maple Road location in Amherst at 1 p.m.

“We cannot stress enough how important regular workouts are to our members,” Catalyst Fitness owner Amy Bueme said. “Every day we listen to our members tell us how regularly working

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Fitness
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How Should Colleges Reopen? There’s No Easy Answer

(Bloomberg Opinion) — How parents and students feel about the fast-approaching specter of college reopenings this fall has been debated — perhaps exhaustively — in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic. Can we do it safely? Should we send them back at all? Will young adults wear masks and abide by social-distancing guidelines? To get a better sense of the other side of the equation, we asked Bloomberg Opinion contributors who are also educators for their views on getting back in the classroom, whether physical or virtual.

Andrea Gabor, Baruch College

I mostly teach journalism to undergraduates at Baruch College, part of the City University of New York, in lower Manhattan. Most classes are taught in 14- and 16-story buildings. Elevator lines are long. A street below is closed to traffic, creating a small common space outdoors that’s often crowded with students.

Most of our 18,000-plus students commute via bus

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Health