SALEM, N.H. — Eager gym members are back to hitting the weights and breaking a sweat inside The Workout Club in Salem, New Hampshire.
Jeff Marquis lives in Massachusetts but works in Salem. He tells Boston 25 News he is delighted to be back at the gym.
“Amazing, especially the stress relief with everything going on in the world right now,” Marquis said.
Back across the border in Massachusetts, gyms don’t open until Phase 3, which is at least two weeks from today on June 29.
Gyms in the Granite State opened last week to reservations only but now are no longer needed and facilities can operate at 50 percent capacity.
“It’s been a very, very busy day," said Laurie Moran, GM of The Workout Club. "We are happy to see our members who have been gone since March 27.”
But to get inside to workout in NH there are several steps. You’ll have to wear a mask, use hand sanitizer, sign a waiver and get your temperature taken.
Also opening in New Hampshire on Monday are public pools, libraries, funeral homes, bowling alleys, race tracks, museums, and wedding venues.
Restaurants there are now allowing people inside but only at 50 percent capacity in 4 counties
One owner argues it’s not enough, saying, “just to make a five percent profit on the entire year, you need to be at a hundred percent just to hit those numbers.”
As of right now, Massachusetts restaurants that are open can only do take out. Indoor dining is now relegated to the Phase 2, Step 2 timeline that Gov. Charlie Baker plans to announce later this week.
Back in New Hampshire, Marquis says he’s just glad he works in Salem and has access to a gym and restaurants that he says allow informed people to make the best decision for themselves.
“[Massachusetts is] a little behind," said Marquis. "Thank God for New Hampshire. The few of us that work in Salem, we’re the lucky ones.”
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