From the point of view of a passerby, California Ripped Fitness looks (mostly) from pre-pandemic times.
People walk in and out of the San Jose gym, dressed in sweatpants, shorts and sneakers, and continue to exercise despite state and county regulations banning gyms from working inside.
California Ripped acknowledges the reality of the pandemic – a mask requirement and material to wipe equipment after use. It is unclear whether there are social guidelines or capacity constraints.
But the gym continues, and remains open despite more than $ 500,000 fines and the threat of legal action by Santa Clara County. In fact, it makes his feelings about the closure of the country very clear.
“We are not saying there is no virus, or that we do not believe it,” the gym manager told the Bay Area News Group in an anonymous interview, “but we believe we can provide a place where people can come safely and stay healthy – and also provide the ability to pay our bills and make a living.
A sign photographed by the Bay Area News Group makes divergent claims that the opening of the gym is protected by the first and fifth amendments.
“We argue that health clubs and exercise are essential,” reads a sign outside the gym.
The gym, which also has locations in Lincoln, Granite Bay and Roseville, has received dozens of complaints from the country since December, KTVU-TV reported when the province returned to the press level. (It was open in previous months, when the country was in the red level.)
While the owner of the gym told Bay Area News Group that the gym had not yet experienced any outbreaks, members of the community and public health expressed their concern about the risks that the gym opposes the state’s health guidelines amid the pandemic.
“It’s really unfortunate that the business owner is still violating the mandate for health officials, while many other similar businesses are doing the right thing and protecting their customers,” Michael Balliet, director of the Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health, told KTVU. (A representative of the province did not immediately return a request for comment from SFGATE.)
Studies have repeatedly found that gyms are ‘superspreader’ sites – even with measures to protect participants. One case in a Canadian gym found that at least 60 people received COVID-19, despite the required distance and other safety measures.
As of Thursday, the province had reported more than 103,000 COVID-19 cases and 1,473 deaths, a large proportion of which have occurred in the past three months.