You might have seen pleas from gyms across Ada County asking customers to tell the local board of health not to shut the gyms down.

Next week, at its weekly meeting, the board will discuss possible additional measures to combat COVID-19 in its boundaries, which includes Ada, Valley, Elmore and Boise counties. So far, no formal agenda has been posted on what those proposals might include. KTVB reported earlier this week that Dr. Ted Epperly, who sits on the board, recommended the panel consider closing gyms.

Central District Health spokesperson Christine Myron said no formal guidance on what the board might consider is posted yet – but this could happen today or by Friday at the latest.

“A recent report from the White House, initiated by the White House Coronavirus Taskforce and sent to the State of Idaho, listed Southwestern Idaho as a red zone,” Myron wrote to BoiseDev.”Among the listed recommendations were limiting social gatherings to fewer than 10 people and closing gyms.”

She said the Board of Health would “more closely examine these strategies” and make a decision if additional restrictions should go into place in Ada County.

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Gyms ask customers to weigh in

Local and national gym chains lit up social channels urging customers to weigh in.

“The Central District Health (sic) is considering closing all Ada County gyms AGAIN. Please let CDH know you DO NOT support closing health club facilities…” Axiom Fitness posted.

Feedback can be sent by email to boh@cdh.idaho.gov. Input must be recieved 24-hours before a meeting. The meeting is set for 4pm on Tuesday, August 11.

All gyms in Idaho closed after Gov. Brad Little put in place a stay at home order in March. They started to reopen during the state’s phased reopening plan in May.

Due to an increase of new coronavirus cases and deaths in Ada County, the Central District Board of Health put in place new restrictions in July in Ada County, including requiring masks in public and closing down bars in the county.