Wellness Center at Wheeling Hospital Reopening Monday
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WHEELING - The Howard Long Wellness Center of Wheeling Hospital is reopening Monday with several restrictions in place to comply with state guidelines to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
"We're excited about welcoming our members back to the center and have been busy preparing for the reopening," director Joe Slavik said. "Hopefully the restrictions will be eased soon because there are some very popular services that are suspended for now. But we've followed the guidelines to the letter and are in full compliance with the governor's orders."
All staff and members will be required to wear face coverings to the greatest extent possible. Members will be screened, including temperature checks, upon entry and social distancing will be in effect at all times during their visit to the center.
All exercise equipment and chairs have been placed at least eight feet apart -- father than the required six-foot buffer -- throughout the center, including on the track, and may not be moved.
Members should wipe down all contact points of every piece of exercise equipment before and after each use. Common contact areas, such as door handles, countertops and railings, will be disinfected by staff at least once per hour during the center's operations.
Group exercise classes will be limited and reduced to 40% capacity, with no shared equipment.
Various services and amenities are suspended to comply with Gov. Jim Justice's guidelines to reopening the state.
The pool, Jacuzzi, lockers, dry saunas and showers will not be used. Locker rooms can be used for coats, restrooms and sinks only. Members are urged to arrive dressed appropriated and ready to work out.
There will be no use of the basketball and racquetball courts or the indoor track.
There will be no childcare available, nor will the Junior Wellness Center be utilized.
Water fountains cannot be used, although the bottle fill stations are available. No guests of members will be permitted to use the center, and no bags or outerwear will be permitted on the fitness floor.
On Monday, all current memberships will be activated and a prorated charge for the last 13 days of May will billed on June 2.
"We understand some members may be reluctant to return to the center initially; therefore, members can use our Summer Freeze Policy from May 18 through June 30, or July 31 or Aug. 31," Slavik said.
To sign up for the option, email hlwcmembership@wheelinghospital.org by May 31, or mail to Howard Long Wellness Center 800 Medical Park Wheeling, WV 26003.
For more information, call the wellness center at 304-242-9355.