The Duluth Area Family YMCA has announced their plans to reopen following the shutdown associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic response.  The doors for members and the general public will  open again on Monday, June 15.  While agency staff assure members that "many of the things [they] love about the Y will be the same", there will be changes due to the pandemic.

Here's a run-down of the changes you can expect - according to information released by the YMCA:

  • Additional Staff Training:  Staff members at the YMCA have been trained in the latest cleaning and disinfection protocols provided by the CDC.
  • Hand Washing: The YMCA will be encouraging more frequent hand-washing breaks.  They've also increased the number of hand sanitizing stations around the buildings.
  • Health Screenings:  All children and staff will be screened upon entry.  Anyone with a temperature above 100.3 and/or exhibiting other symptoms of illness will not be allowed to enter.
  • Smaller Group Sizes:  Fitness classes will be smaller than you might be accustomed to - due to the need for additional space so that everyone can practice social distancing.
  • Limited Equipment:  The YMCA has removed some equipment to help encourage social distancing.
  • Changes To Services:  Due to safety and health concerns, some of the services members might be accustomed to seeing at the YMCA have been removed.  Towel service has been removed at the downtown Duluth branch.  In addition, there will no longer be free coffee and the tables and chairs in the lobbies have been removed.  Scales will also not be available in the wellness centers.
  • Pool Status:  Swimming pools at the YMCA remained closed for the time being.  However, pools at the downtown Duluth location will reopen on June 22 and the Cook County location will reopen on July 1.
  • Limited Lockers Available: The YMCA has closed a large number of their lockers to help reduce touch points and to accommodate social distancing needs.

The Duluth Family YMCA is part of the larger YMCA organization - one of the nation's leading nonprofits "strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility".  It's estimated that the Y engages more than 22 million members worldwide.

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