Capacity Limits For Gyms To Go Up, But Will It Matter?

BURLINGTON, MA — Capacity limits for gyms and other businesses will increase from 25 to 40 percent Monday, Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday.

But for at least one local gym, that may not make much of a difference — they're not even hitting 25 percent of capacity now.

Shawn Bowler, the assistant manager of Burlington's Planet Fitness, said that under current rules, the gym is limited to 57 people. That will go up to about 90 on Monday. In terms of hard capacity limits, that change will mean very little for them, Bowler said.

>>MA Increases Business Capacity Limits From 25 To 40 Percent

"Even like 45 people here right now is considered packed for us," he said. "We really wouldn't ever have 90 people in the club at the same time."

That doesn't mean he was disappointed about the change — the bump could have a psychological effect.

"I'd hope that if people see capacity going up, hopefully they would be more comfortable coming in," Bowler said.

But the big challenge for the gym is not the capacity limit, he said. Along with being shut down for four months in the spring, he attributed the gym losing a fifth of its memberships to two factors:

"Ninety-nine percent of those were people that a) weren't comfortable coming in because of uncertainty was what was going on ... and b) people that didn't want to work out with a mask on," Bowler said.

Some people are waiting to get vaccinated before they come in, while others won't come back until they can go without masks, he said. Currently, masks are required at all times in gyms.

Baker said Thursday "dramatic declines" in coronavirus positive test rates and hospitalizations across the state allow for the gradual easing of restrictions.

The 25 percent capacity restriction went into effect on Dec. 26 after a surge in virus rates following Thanksgiving and leading up to Christmas. It was extended twice.

"People's work is paying off in this one," Baker said during his Thursday news conference. "We just need to keep it up for a few more months."

The easing restrictions affect offices, stores, restaurants, gyms, fitness centers, museums, libraries, personal-care businesses and churches. Employees do not count toward the 40 percent limit.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.