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Arizona Department of Health Services officials released Aug. 10 the requirements for indoor gyms and fitness clubs/centers to reopen. But according to RCSC officials in an email sent to cardholders Aug. 11, benchmarks set by state officials cannot be met to reopen RCSC fitness centers.
ADHS requirements for gyms and fitness centers to reopen in Maricopa County is the county must have fewer than 100 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people, less than 10% test positive for the virus and hospital visits due to COVID-like illnesses is below 10%.
Maricopa County, as of Aug. 12, already met the first benchmark with a 5.3% hospitalization rate. There were 117 cases per 100,000. The figures was at 11.2% for positivity. Reporting of these figures are about 12 days old due to lags in reporting, according to Arizona Department of Health Services officials.
“Currently, Maricopa County is in the ‘substantial transmission phase,’ which does not allow RCSC to reopen its fitness centers,” RCSC officials stated in their email to cardholders.
While fitness centers will not be reopened at this time, RCSC officials are preparing for eventual openings.
RCSC has been working through the drafted requirements to ensure we meet all necessary requirements to apply for eventual reopening. Those preparations include removal of furniture in common areas, sanitization dispensers in locker rooms and new signage at fitness center entries.
“We are continuing to follow guidance from ADHS, the governor’s office and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” RCSC officials stated. “More information will be provided as the benchmark metrics change and reopening the RCSC fitness centers is possible.”
Editor's Note: The earlier version of this story included incorrect data for the cases per 100,000 category.
Rusty Bradshaw News Editor | Sun City &
Sun City West @SunCitiesEditor
Rusty Bradshaw is a 40-year veteran of community journalism, having worked at newspapers in Wyoming, Oregon and Arizona. He has been with Independent Newsmedia 15 years.
Rusty earned a junior college certificate from Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming and a bachelor of science degree from Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande Oregon.
An avid football fan, Rusty also enjoys photography, reading, spending time outdoors and enjoying life with his wife. He also authored three books of fiction, “The Rehabilitation of Miss Little,” “Moist on the Mountain” and "Gorge Justice." Visit www.rustythewriter.org.
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