Kelly Kenoyer
It’s once again permissible for patrons to exercise at Steelhead Fitness.
On Tuesday, Jan. 26, Gov. Kate Brown announced some changes to the business regulations around counties in the extreme risk category, which includes Linn County.
The regulatory changes allow for up to six people to engage in “indoor activities” in a building larger than 500 feet. For smaller buildings, activities are limited to one on one services, like personal training.
Steelhead Fitness owner David Bauer said the gym reopened on Feb. 1.
“Fortunately, the six people at a time doesn’t include staff,” he said. “I don’t know if that will justify turning on the lights and heat and all that.”
Bauer said he’s hoping the regulations open up even more, as the designation based on just “larger than 500 feet” doesn’t make much sense to him. He pointed out that the same rule of six people at a time applies to gyms smaller than his as well as massive gymnasiums that take up a area the size of a warehouse.
“There’s been a lot of pushback on the six number, especially for big facilities,” he said. “They’re pushing back on where the science was on that.”
Brown said the continuing closures are intended to protect communities from the spread of COVID while vaccine rollout continues.
“The science has shown us that outdoor activities are safer than indoor activities when it comes to the spread of COVID 19, which is why we have clearly delineated guidance between indoor and outdoor activities,” said Brown in a press release.
“We have seen over the last several weeks that Oregonians have largely complied with risk levels to the point that we have not seen a surge in hospitalizations that would have jeopardized hospital capacity. This means we are able to make these adjustments for Extreme Risk counties, which should assist both businesses and Oregonians as we continue to work to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
Bauer said for his business, re-opening is a matter of survival, even if it’s at severely diminished capacity. He said that pre-COVID, the gym would see 50 people at a time during peak hours.
“The money’s not coming in from grants any more, so we’re kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place,” he said.
And he said that patrons are eager to get back to exercising. Some have even asked him to open despite the regulations, but he hadn’t so far.
“People need their gym, they need that release,” he said. “We’re trying to accommodate our community and what they want.”
As for when the gym will open for 24 hours a day, Bauer said that’s a long way off. He needs staff to stay on hand to make sure the regulations are followed, he said.
“We’re very happy to be opening back up. We’re hopeful, and we’re thankful for our community to help us stay alive.”