Onondaga, Madison counties to allow indoor classes at gyms

Both Onondaga County and Madison County on Thursday announced they are allowing gyms and fitness centers to hold indoor classes again after five months of being off limits due to the coronavirus.

Onondaga County says they can resume Monday, while Madison County says the indoor classes can resume “within the state guidelines.” It didn’t specify a date, stating the gyms first need the local green light from the Madison County Health Department.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that gyms and fitness centers are allowed to reopen and is having local county health departments oversee the reopening process with inspections.

Onondaga County

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon says the county will handle those inspections as it hears from gyms and fitness centers through their document filing at the New York Forward website.

“Gyms, including indoor classes, are not only important for our physical health, but our mental health as well. I am happy to announce that Onondaga County will allow indoor classes to resume next week,” McMahon said. “Our community has demonstrated over and over again that we can reopen safely and responsibly. Even with most parts of our economy back open, our infection rate has never been lower. I am confident that we will, once again, be a model for the rest of the state on how to resume indoor classes in safe and responsible manner.”

Madison County

“Our local gyms have waited patiently for the day they could reopen their doors, that time has finally come,” John Becker, chairman of the Madison County Board of Supervisers, said in a release. “I have confidence that gym owners, as well as clients, will work hard to keep everyone safe. They will adhere to cleaning protocols, as well as wear face masks, that is why I am authorizing gyms to also host indoor classes.”

The guidance applies to fitness activities and facilities, including, “but not limited to,” standalone, hotel, residential, and office gyms and fitness centers; gyms and fitness centers in higher-education institutions; yoga/Pilates/barre studios; boxing and kickboxing gyms; fitness boot camps; CrossFit or other plyometric box classes; and other group-fitness classes, per the Madison County release.

The guidance documents can be accessed at the NY Forward website under Phase 4 industries or on the Madison County website.