Gov. Murphy: NJ Gyms, Indoor Amusements Reopen Amid Coronavirus

Tom Davis
Updated ·3 min read

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy made what had been, for many, a too-long awaited announcement on Wednesday: Gyms and indoor amusement facilities can finally reopen amid the coronavirus.

Murphy said gyms and indoor amusements will be allowed to reopen at 25 percent capacity, and customers have to wear masks, beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 1 (see more details below).

Gyms and indoor dining had been perhaps the two last and largest components of New Jersey's economy that remained shut. Gyms were allowed to hold workouts outdoors and could hold one-on-one appointments with people.

Murphy, speaking during a Wednesday news conference, said he hopes to reopen indoor dining and movie theaters by Sept. 14. Read more: Gov. Murphy Hopes To Open NJ Indoor Dining, Movie Theaters Soon

The update comes as the number of cases continues to rise in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, School Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Here are other rules for reopening gyms:

  • Group fitness classes must be limited to 1 person per 200 square feet.

  • Logs must be maintained for members and staff.

  • Six feet of distance must be established between equipment.

  • All equipment must be sanitized

  • Showers will not be open

Murphy provided an example of how equipment must be spaced apart: If treadmills are set up in a row, every other piece of equipment would be operational.

Gym owners have been perhaps the most vocal opponents to Murphy's stay-at-home plans, but Murphy has avoided providing a specific date, saying repeatedly he hopes to open them "sooner rather than later.

Murphy said the problem is the gyms are indoors, where "you don't have ventilation," there's "sweat," people are within close proximity and sedentary.

"It's a petri dish," Murphy said.

Perhaps no gym has been more vocal than Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, whose owners were arrested and eventually lost their license after repeatedly opening against orders. Read more: Atilis Owners Go 'On The Offensive' After Murphy Reopens NJ Gyms

Craig Benson, a Planet Fitness Board Member and franchise owner in New Jersey who operates 18 gyms, said fitness centers are "critical to the mental, physical and financial health for New Jerseyans, and we are grateful that Governor Murphy has announced that we can reopen with safety protocols in place."

"Throughout the reopening process, we will continue to collaborate with local, county and state health officials to ensure that our members can work out again in a safe, clean and welcoming environment, and our staff can get back to work," he said.

William Olson, a Planet Fitness franchise owner who operates 18 gyms in New Jersey, said he wants "to thank Governor Murphy for working with us so that we can safely reopen with strict guidelines in place, which will empower us to help our members improve their physical and mental health during these challenging times."

"Investing in the health and safety of our communities is the most important role we play and we will always treat that with the seriousness it deserves,” he said.

There are 64 Planet Fitness locations in New Jersey, which combined have 491,000 members and employ more than 3000 people.

Health and safety protocols being implemented at Planet Fitness gyms in New Jersey include:

  • Limited capacity to comply with social distancing

  • Advanced air filtration systems with high-grade filters

  • Masks required at all times

  • High-tech electrostatic disinfecting sprayers for the gym and equipment

  • Touchless check-in

  • Reconfiguration of equipment to ensure each machine is at least 6 feet apart and is in a forward-facing direction (decreasing face to face risk)

  • Well-stocked cleaning stations with hand sanitizer

  • Posters explaining best- health practices displayed throughout gym

  • Cleaning of machines before and after each use

  • One-way flow for foot traffic

  • Temperature checks for staff members at the start of each shift in addition to health questionnaire

  • Ample supply of PPE equipment for staff and members including masks and gloves

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This article originally appeared on the Gloucester Township Patch