Gyms and athletic facilities will be able to re-open Monday following Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s announcement during Thursday’s briefing.
Some restrictions will be lifted at gyms, fitness centers and indoor athletic facilities with social distancing guidelines put in place.
Temperatures will be checked for all employees and face coverings are required for staff and patrons when not actively exercising.
Pools, spas, showers and saunas are to remain closed.
Hutchinson said equipment is to be sanitized after each use and there should be a 12-foot distance while working out.
“That’s important because as you’re exercising, you’re exhaling to a greater extent,” he said.
Amanda Cooley, public relations manager for the SHARE Foundation, said in a statement to the News-Times that HealthWorks Fitness Center is excited to begin opening with restrictions.
“HealthWorks is obtaining all necessary equipment and supplies, as well as properly training staff in order to open,” she said. “We do not have an exact open date at this time. Please watch for updates on social media and our website for announcements to come.”
Kelly Eichler, an owner of the Little Rock Athletic Club and a member of the governor’s Economic Recovery Task Force, joined the governor at the podium and said the gym is looking forward to welcoming its members back with limitations set by the Arkansas Department of Health.
She said the gym is planning on making re-opening as touchless as possible, and will include health guards who will have sanitary wipes to wipe down equipment, among other things.
Eichler also said those with questions about guidelines, including other fitness facilities, should reach out to the Athletic Club.
Hutchinson also announced the state isn’t ready to re-engage in summer athletics and team and youth sports. He said the current directive prohibits team sports through May 31 but wanted to give advance notice to plan for the future.
He said the state will reexamine this in mid- to late-May.
Hutchinson also emphasized social restrictions are still in place, and it’s important to continue them to maintain a downward curve.
Sec. of Health Dr. Nate Smith announced the state has a total of 3,255 total cases with 1,888 active.
He said 95 patients are hospitalized with 23 patients on a ventilator. There have also been 61 deaths, 22 of which are associated with nursing homes.
Smith said 1,305 people have recovered.
There are no new cases in the Cummins Maximum Security Unit, although 13 are hospitalized, with three on ventilators. There are, though, 14 new inmates that have tested positive at the Federal Correctional Institution in Forrest City for a total of 101 inmates.
Smith said the state had a record number of testing with 2,520 reports Wednesday, 2,079 of which were from a commercial lab, 190 from the ADH public health lab and 251 from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. There was a 1.5% rate for total positivity.
He also said American Esoteric Laboratories, or AEL, in Memphis has expanded its testing capacity to 1,500 per day and is dedicating 1,000 of its tests to helping hospitals and medical facilities complete COVID-19 testing for elective surgery patients.
Local numbers
According to the ADH, Union County has 45 cases of the virus with 277 negative testes and 24 recoveries.