2nd business allowed to reopen after earning approval from AZDHS

PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Health Services on Saturday gave approval for two fitness facilities to reopen with strict outlines amid the coronavirus pandemic.

EOS Fitness and Training for Warriors – Estrella in Goodyear were the two companies approved by the agency, while four other companies were denied.

The department in an email Saturday said that 95 bars serving food, 89 gyms and five movie theaters applied for early reopening.

AZDHS released benchmarks this week for businesses that were shut down under Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s June 29 executive order: indoor fitness centers, bars/nightclubs, theaters, water parks and tubing.

Shuttered businesses are allowed to reopen when their counties enter the moderate stage of community spread, which means meeting state health departments benchmarks for three metrics: coronavirus cases per 100,000 in population, set test percent positivity and hospital visits for COVID-like illnesses.

Maricopa County met one of the benchmarks as of Thursday’s weekly update of the data.

However, the state provided an appeals process in locales where the benchmarks haven’t been met.

Under the process, businesses in counties where community spread is still considered substantial can apply to reopen by coming up with a mitigation plan that is more strict than the opening requirements for areas in the moderate spread stage.

They can open if the state approves those plans.

Businesses allowed to reopen ahead of the benchmarks must display their mitigation plans in prominent location.

EOS Fitness posted its plans, which include limiting capacity, requiring reservations 24 hours in advance for all workouts and requiring face coverings at all times.

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