On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio dashed any hopes that gyms would reopen in New York City next week.
Governor Andrew Cuomo had announced that fitness centers would finally be able to reopen on August 24 with a reduced capacity of 33 percent and various health protocols on Monday, but in his Tuesday morning press conference, de Blasio said that would not be the case for NYC.
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In order to reopen under state guidelines, gyms would have to be inspected by the city's health department to make sure they're following regulations and to determine whether each gym can have classes. Unfortunately, the city doesn't have enough bandwidth to do both gyms and schools, the mayor said.
"This is about health and safety first," the mayor said on Tuesday. "One thing the governor's executive order makes clear — local discretion is in a lot of this — and based on reality in New York City, we won't start before September 2. I want to be real clear: the priority is going to be on the inspections we need to do for childcare centers and schools."
September 10 is the proposed opening date for NYC schools, but many lawmakers are pushing for a delayed start.
Even when reopening gyms is possible, the regulations will still prove difficult for many local gyms.
BK Fit, which has been offering outdoor training at its locations and at an outdoor facility for several weeks now, says it'll continue doing so for those uncomfortable working out indoors. It'll also offer access to its indoor facilities 24/7, according to its Instagram account.
*This article was originally published on Timeout by Shaye Weaver and can be found here.
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