The Greater Moncton YMCA is looking forward to welcoming members back to their Health, Fitness and Aquatics Centre.
Members only will be allowed into the main facility as of 6 a.m. this Friday.
CEO Zane Korytko says they’ve spent the last two months coming up with a plan that will allow them to reopen.
Korytko says one of the first in Canada to reopen following closures due to COVID-19.
“As a matter of fact I believe that we are the first Y to be fully open with an aquatics centre, so we’re really excited 
about that,” he says
He says a number of precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure the health and safety of members and their staff.
“Temperature and health screening will be conducted as soon as you enter the YMCA building, floor markings throughout the building indicate the proper social distancing as well as the direction in which individuals and groups will need to take and gym equipment must be cleaned before and after use,” he says.
Korytko says this first phase of reopening will last for two weeks, after which the team will reevaluate.
He says the hold placed on membership payments during the closure will continue for the initially two weeks.
“The first two weeks is free for members to try. We’re not going to take any money out of any accounts. We want them to be able to try it out without a financial burden, so that they can decide of this is something they want or not,” says Korytko.
The number of people allowed in the pool and fitness classes is limited and members will have to reserve their spot online.
Universal bathrooms will be accessible. Locker rooms, showers, saunas, hot tubs and towel service however, will not be available.
Locker services will be reserved strictly for those using the pool.
Child and youth programs, including youth swimming and childminding, are still not permitted yet.
Korytko added that throughout the closure, construction of the new north end Y has continued and is on track to open between late summer and early fall.
