SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – New York state gyms are no longer required to operate under an 11 p.m. curfew starting last Monday.
It was announced last week that curfews would be lifted on gyms, along with bowling alleys, billiards halls and movie theatres. Restaurants and bars however, were not included in the lift and will have to continue operating under a curfew.
Hellen Green, owner of the Powerhouse Gym in Syracuse, said the curfew lift is welcomed but took way too long.
“I think they should’ve been lifted quite a while ago,” Green said. “We’ve been keeping records on every member. We take temperatures on every person that comes in the door, and we’ve never had a COVID case walk through our front doors.”
As soon as a gym-goer walks into the gym, there is an automatic temperature reader they must use before being allowed full-entry.
Green said that although the lift came late, it should still be a huge boost to her business.
“It’s a huge boost,” Green said. “I’ve lost quite a few of my med students that work late hours and they want to come in those hours and it’s perfect to be able to come in that time and it’s not crowded.”
Powerhouse Gym is now back to being open 24 hours a day.
Unlike Green however, Vanessa Palmer, a franchise owner of the popular fitness chain Orangetheory Fitness, explains that the curfew lift really won’t affect her studio.
“The curfew doesn’t affect us,” Palmer explained. “Our first class starts at 5 a.m. and our last class ends at 8 p.m.”
Most Orangetheory Fitness studios operate under the same hours, starting very early in the morning and wrapping up by the evening.
Despite not being affected by the curfew, Palmer said she is still very happy with the curfew lift.
“Any forward progress for gyms I’m always behind and for because while it might not help us necessarily this curfew lifting,” Palmer explained. “It’ll help some other gyms out there and we need to stick around because we’re part of the solution.”
Palmer strongly believes that gyms play a crucial part in the pandemic by encouraging people to stay active in order to be stronger and healthier.
“A huge part of the role gyms play in the pandemic is we want to be part of the solution,” Palmer said. “It’s been proven that staying healthy, keeping moving, having a healthy diet, all of that plays a part in helping fight any virus, including COVID-19.”
