The Family YMCA at 1450 Iris St. in downtown Los Alamos. Courtesy photo

YMCA News:

The Family YMCA we will reopen June 8 in compliance with state health orders.

The organization is taking a week before to prepare the facility and fully train staff in new protocols, especially around cleaning and sanitation.

“The safety of our members, participants and staff is our number one priority,” Y Chief Operations Officer Chris Daniels said. “Our staff created and our Board has approved a phased reopening plan that will be updated as regulations evolve.”

Daniels said the reopening plan has a phased approached and is available for viewing on the Y’s website at www.laymca.org.

Highlights to Phase 1 opening include many changes:

• The Y will be open Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The hours of 7-8:30 a.m. are reserved for senior and high health risk members until further notice
• The facility will operate at less than 50% capacity
• Areas and rooms will have posted capacities to support social distancing
• A new waiver needs to be signed by all members, see in reopening plan
• Masks are required upon entering, but not while exercising
• Members and employees will be screened with a no-contact thermometer;   individuals with a
• temperature above 100.4 will not be allowed in the facility
• Physical distancing is required at all times
• Hand sanitation is required upon entering, also available at exit
• Members must wipe down equipment before and after each use, and
• Members need to bring in and take out daily their own stretching mats
• No-touch water bottle filling stations are available, but not fountains

“We also will be offering a schedule of live-virtual group fitness classes,” Daniels said. “Per state orders there will be no live in-person classes at this time.”

He said other area and program closures can be seen in the reopening plan on the website, but include no use of showers, saunas, child watch, climbing wall and racquetball courts at present.

Daniels said the Y surveyed members about their reopening May 7, and that the results demonstrated a careful, cautionary tone that is very much in alignment with best practices staff found.

“The past several months have been challenging for all of us,” Daniels said, “and we thank everyone for doing your part to help stop the spread of coronavirus – especially for the benefit of our most vulnerable community members and neighbors.”