MARSHALL (KMHL) – As bars and restaurants have begun re-opening from shutdowns related to COVID-19 – there still is no timeline on the re-opening of fitness centers in Minnesota.
Those businesses were ordered closed on March 17th and they have been closed for nearly three months.
Tom Bolin, Executive Director of the Marshall Area YMCA says they have plans in place that could safely allow them to re-open.
“Those first few days were kind of an HR logistic nightmare, but right after that we started looking at reopening, and have been doing those plans,” said Bolin. “We really thought we’d open June 1, so everything is ready to go we’re just waiting for that governor go ahead.”
He notes that when they reopen this will be quite a bit different than how things were before the Y closed down.
Many of the machines have been moved to encourage social distancing, he says they will also be taking temperatures of anyone coming into the facility to make sure they’re healthy and Bolin says at least for the first week or so they’ll be asking people to make reservations to work out so they can track numbers easier.
“Probably the most important part for us, is that we’ll really communicate [our opening plans] so about a week out before we do that we’ll have videos we’ll put out to show what the Y looks like and what the screening process will be like to come.”
In addition, Bolin says he thinks there will be more use of technology for the Y, including an improved app that will allow them to reach beyond those who can come to the facility.
