The YMCA of Greater Omaha says it will begin reopening its locations over the coming weeks.
The Y says the Charles E. Lakin YMCA in Council Bluffs and the Mills County YMCA in Glenwood will be reopening on May 18th. Services and amenities will be limited to Wellness Centers only, which includes cardio and weight equipment, free weights and walking tracks. No swimming pools, Group Exercise, Child Watch, coffee or towel services will be available.
With Nebraska’s directed health measures still in place, the Y says "pending the state’s scheduled loosening of restrictions, all seven Nebraska-based YMCA’s are planning to reopen accordingly on Monday, June 1st." The YMCA of Greater Omaha’s Nebraska-based facilities include the Armbrust, Southwest, Butler-Gast, Maple Street, Downtown, Sarpy and Twin Rivers facilities.
The YMCA says reopening will look a different than pre-COVID operations. "Specifically, with the safety of everyone in mind, members should expect to see guidelines in place when returning to the Y."
Those guidelines include:
- Facilities will operate at or below 50% occupancy at all times, on a first-come/first-served basis.
- Some branch hours of operation will be modified.
- Only members 15 years and older will be allowed to access the facility.
- Proper social distancing will be in place, with 6’ distance markers and some equipment and stations marked as unavailable for use.
- Only Wellness Center floors will be open, which includes cardio and weight equipment, free weights and walking tracks.
- Gym, swimming pools, locker rooms, steam/sauna, coffee stations, towel service, water fountains and other amenities will not be available. Members encouraged to bring their own towels and/or water bottles.
- No Child watch service.
- Y staff will adhere to safety guidelines including key staff wearing face masks.
- Additional cleaning protocols will be implemented at all facilities.