COVID-19 has not only affected students and families, but also businesses. The Mariner Square Athletic Club, a gym located in Alameda, is just one of the many businesses at risk of closing.

Because of increasing COVID-19 cases in Alameda County, businesses are required to enforce safety precautions. Mariner Square Athletic Club has imposed rules for the safety of their employees and members, according to membership manager Camille Hammond.

“We’re following all guidelines for the CDC, because they have specific guidelines for gyms, which include Sneezeguards, social distancing, sanitization stations, checking temperatures, and making sure people haven’t been anywhere that would be at risk. We also have updated our air filtration systems,” said Hammond. 

While regulations are in place, the gym is facing a decline in membership.

“We lost about sixty-five to seventy percent of our members. We either lost or they put on hold their membership,” said Hammond.

As Alameda County enters the Purple Tier, businesses are finding it harder to operate. The number of members are not the only thing decreasing, as employees are also facing hardships. 

“Many of the employee’s unfortunately got laid off. Almost all of the instructors are not currently working because we can’t hold classes. A lot of us have been coming back, sort of on and off, as well,” said Hammond.