The community that Snap Fitness in South Portland serves is in desperate need of their health support services. 

Studies show that regular physical exercise boosts immunity. The Snap member base is not a typical gym member base. While they serve members from age 13 to 97, the mean age of their membership has ranged over the years between 49 and 51. They have members who suffer from type two diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, anxiety/depression, as well as those members who use the facility as a means to maintain their sobriety. The incredibly caring staff of Snap Fitness has checked on members consistently in the last 3 months of the pandemic shutdown to monitor their health and needs. They have gone to the extent of loaning out equipment to many members so that they may try and continue with their routine. One example: A gentleman in his late 60s with kidney disease, who normally uses the facility two to three times a day, every day of the week. Upon closing, he contacted the staff of Snap because he was struggling with fluid retention in his legs and aggravated symptoms of congestive heart failure. They loaned him a recumbent bike which he is using faithfully and managing his issues.This is a wonderful success, but they cannot lend equipment to every member, and there are others who are suffering because they do not have access to the center to complete their regular wellness routines. 
 
The management team at Snap Fitness is prepared follow all of the safety protocol mandated by Governor Mills to operate their facility and keep their membership protected from potential infection. They are ready to: limit the amount of people in the  6000 square-foot facility at any given time (even at the busiest times of the year, they never have more than 30 people in the building). They have implemented one-way traffic markers, i.e., arrows and x’s on the floor, similar to those in the grocery store. They have mounted 15 hand sanitizer wall units, with multiple units in every room of the facility. They have closed off one of their two entrances to allow them to keep track of who is in the building at any given time. In addition, each member will be required to grab a spray bottle with a sanitizing solution upon entry. They will be  asked to sanitize equipment prior to and after they use it. Upon leaving the facility, the spray bottle will be returned to a different area of the gym. There, it will be sanitized and returned to the main entrance. Snap is prepared to limit workouts to one hour and to close off access to shower rooms. Members will complete a five question survey upon returning to the fitness center to ensure that no one who enters is experiencing covid-related symptoms. They are prepared to either block off every other piece of cardio equipment and/or put plastic barriers between pieces of equipment. Staff, trainers and physical therapist will be masked at all times. Thorough sanitation of every piece of equipment/surface hourly during staffed hours and immediately upon commencing staffed hours. 
 
Snap Fitness is not just a facility where members go to “get skinny" or “get big muscles.” They have been providing vital health care services, including physical therapy, to many vulnerable members of the population for over 14 years, and these members desperately need access to their facility to resume their wellness activities and prevent any further exacerbation of pre-existing medical issues. They are a well-respected community operation, ready to fully comply with all government requirements to re-open, and their members need them. Rather than making a blanket decision and lumping all fitness centers together, we ask that you allow Snap Fitness to reopen with care and prudence and provide their vital services to the community once again.