Local fitness facilities and residents reacted Thursday to the news that the Oregon Health Authority will be lifting the state mask mandate on March 19.
This comes as hospitalizations are projected to reach levels below the start of the omicron surge, according to the OHA.
Pursue Fitness in Springfield is no stranger to pivoting due to COVID-19. The facility closed for two months in the beginning of the pandemic. They also moved fitness equipment outdoors at one point.
General Manager Matt Turnquist said there is a sense of relief with this news.
“I think when these announcements were first made, I believe it was about a month ago, we had the target date of March 31,” said Turnquist. “Even that created a lot of relief here. I think people are always looking for some sort of end, and I don’t know if we’re ever going to get that, but if we get sort of break, people will find relief in that.”
Turnquist said the fitness industry has forever changed because of the pandemic, but it has highlighted the importance of clean shared places.
“One thing the pandemic has shown us is how important access is to affordable, safe and clean fitness spaces,” said Turnquist. “I don’t think we’ll see the end of public fitness spaces. It’s just a matter of how they look and how they adapt to all the changes.”
The Eugene Family YMCA’s CEO, Brian Steffen, said the last two years have brought on challenges but has created opportunities for their leadership to think more strategically.
