Queens gyms are back in business (masks required)

Planet FItness locations are practicing “social fitnessing” by unplugging every other treadmill. Photo courtesy of Planet Fitness Supreme

By David Brand

Masked up gym rats hit the treadmills and squat racks across Queens Wednesday as fitness centers opened for the first time since mid-March.

Under state order, gyms across the borough have instituted several new protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19. For starters, every customer has to wear a mask and keep it on during their workout. 

Gyms are also preventing members from getting too close to one another.

“There’s social distancing on the equipment. Every other machine is operable,” said James Innocenti, the chief operating officer of Planet Fitness Supreme, a franchisee that operates 45 Planet Fitness sites in New York City, including six in Queens. “They are at least 6 to 7 feet from the next person to make people feel a lot more comfortable.”

Planet Fitness staff have been trained in proper sanitization methods and the 24-hour gyms are now closed at night to give cleaning crews time to scrub the facilities, Innocenti said.

The reopening plan has allowed the Planet Fitness Supreme franchises to hire back about 85 percent of their pre-COVID staff, Innnocenti said. The rest have moved away, gotten other jobs or could not be contacted, he added. 

Planet Fitness franchisee Planet Fitness Supreme offers touchless check-ins to members. Photo courtesy of Planet Fitness Supreme

Under state rules, gyms must operate at no more than 33 percent capacity. Patrons must pass a COVID screening questionnaire, wear a mask and maintain six feet of distance during their workouts. Planet Fitness has enabled customers to complete the health questionnaire, see the gym’s current capacity and check in to the gym via an app.

On Wednesday afternoon, Innocenti said the first-day turn-out was encouraging. 

“Based on what we see today, we’ve definitely gotten a lot of interest,” he said. “We’re good for mental health and for physical health and I think people realize that.”

Still, many avid gymgoers say they plan to stay home as a COVID-19 precaution.

Rego Park resident Leila Zogby said she used to attend classes three days a week and hit the equipment on two others, but she’s not yet ready to return.

“Classes will not be resuming at this time, which is a good idea since social distancing would be hard, and regardless of the restrictions in place, I do not feel comfortable using gym equipment,” she said. “Between sweating and breathing heavily, even with a mask, which seems very uncomfortable to me, there is simply too high a risk of catching something.”

“I wish it were different, but it's not.”