Planet Fitness, Inc. announced members and guests will be required to wear a mask at all times while inside all open stores, beginning August 1. Currently, all Planet Fitness employees are required to wear masks. To date, Planet Fitness has approximately 1,450 locations open across 46 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Australia.
“As we continue to face the COVID-19 pandemic, amid an ongoing global health crisis, wellness has never been as essential to our collective community as it is today,” said Chris Rondeau, the CEO of Planet Fitness, in a statement. “Gyms are part of the solution and a key element of the healthcare delivery system, providing much needed access for people to exercise and stay healthy. Given our leadership position within the industry, we believe it’s our responsibility to further protect our members, employees and communities so we can all safely focus on our health, which is more important now than ever before.”
According to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), safety and sanitization policies implemented at gyms that have been allowed to reopen have been extremely effective. In addition to the updated mask requirement, Planet Fitness has already taken several additional steps to strengthen its existing cleanliness policies and procedures to help keep members, guests and employees safe, including:
- Enhanced cleanliness and sanitization policies and procedures
- Extensive training for employees
- Physical distancing measures
- Reducing physical touch points with touchless check-in
Earlier this month, Planet Fitness also launched a “crowd meter” feature on its free mobile app to allow members to check club capacity before coming into the gym.
“I believe as people return to their daily activities, they need to be able to safely access gyms and fitness centers with confidence, and reestablish their norms and routines,” said Dr. Ian Norton, health emergency response expert, founder of Respond Global and former head of emergency medical team response with the World Health Organization, in a statement. “While COVID-19 is a serious public health issue, so too is the epidemic of obesity and chronic disease killing 1.7 million Americans every year. Fitness contributes to lowering rates of non-communicable disease related to sedentary lifestyles and obesity, and improves mental health, physical health and overall well-being.”
In addition to reopening stores across the country, Planet Fitness also offers free live “Home Work-Ins,” which are part of Planet Fitness’ “United We Move” campaign designed to motivate and inspire everyone to stay physically and mentally fit. Planet Fitness also offers exclusive fitness content and more than 500 exercises on its free mobile app.
Update July 31
In the most recent statement, Planet Fitness makes adjustment to mask mandate:
“Your health and safety is our #1 priority, and we’re committed to keeping our clubs clean and safe. For the enhanced safety of our members, guests and team members, masks are now required except while actively working out, and in accordance with local restrictions, in all Planet Fitness locations worldwide, effective August 1, 2020. This means that a mask must be worn at all times, and in accordance with local restrictions, in the club (except while actively working out) including when entering and exiting the facility, in between machines and exercises on the gym floor, cleaning, and while in the locker room and NOT behind a private enclosure such as a shower or tanning room. While you are actively working out, you do not need to have a mask on.”
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Bobby is the former assistant editor of Club Solutions Magazine.
