By Stasia Connor
As the pandemic made its way, innumerable companies, including small businesses, were required to shut down. Fitness Centers were among them as they are more susceptible to germs due to the equipment that is reused by people working out.
Celeste Farrell is a front desk associate and personal trainer at Crunch Fitness center in Deltona. Crunch was obligated to shut down for about three months beginning in March. Within the months of being closed, they faced a few hardships, she said.
“When we first started off everyone wanted to cancel because they were afraid to come back,” Farrell said. “We had a big decline in sales starting off but once we started getting promos back up and really showing them what we’re doing differently to help prevent COVID-19 that’s when people started feeling more comfortable.”
Throughout the lockdown, new guidelines were made for all businesses in varying counties throughout Florida. Crunch Fitness had to adjust to the new regulations. With hospital-based disinfectants as well as masks and gloves now being provided to customers at the front desk, safety is one of their main priorities.
Farrell explained the rundown of what goes on when each member first arrives at the gym.
“When you first come in every member will get their temperature checked at the front,” she said. “You have to be under a 100.4 in order to be cleared to go through. We have spray bottles for every member to hold, in hand. When they’re done, they’ll put the spray bottles on a different table, and we sanitize those bottles as well for other members to use. Masks are not required for members but for staff they’re required.”
For the duration of the current guidelines and regulations, classes taken place in the fitness center have limited spots open for reservation in order to withhold a social distance of six feet within gym members.
Andrew Rodriguez, a loyal member at Crunch, chose to continue his regular workout schedule amidst the new adjustments.
“I am 100% able to use the equipment I use while also keeping my distance and after I’m done,” Rodriguez said. “I always wipe down my station with a sanitized spray bottle that we pick up at the front.”
Granted that COVID-19 has brought amongst distress causing suffering not only financially, but mentally and emotionally. As fitness is seen as an outlet to many, Crunch’s staff has tried their best to normalize these new adjustments so members can feel safe, reminding them to sanitize their stations before and after it is used.