San Francisco gyms, hair salons reopen with capacity limits, major modifications

San Francisco gyms, hair salons and hotels for tourism use were allowed to reopen Monday morning with new health and safety guidelines.

The businesses are all subject to new health guidelines released Monday, including limited capacity orders.

City health officials Monday released new health guidelines for many business sectors, such as indoor gyms and personal care services — hair and nail salons — that must be followed if they choose to reopen.

Indoor gyms and fitness centers can now operate at up to 10 percent capacity and must facilitate social distancing among customers engaged in any kind of physical activity. The new public guidelines explain:

“Physical exertion from exercising can increase exhalation rate and intensity, making physical distancing even more important to lower the risks of transmitting the virus that causes COVID19.”

People exercising or breathing heavily must remain 12 feet apart and those not exercising are required to stay 6 feet apart from others. 

Many of the The City’s gyms have already notified members of operating changes. Fitness SF, which has multiple locations citywide, said they will allow members to reserve time slots and will check temperatures using a thermal camera during check-ins. Members are also required to wear face coverings.

City Sports at Stonestown Galleria reopened its doors early Monday morning. In addition to face mask and temperature check requirements, members will also be asked a series of health questions.

City officials recommend gyms and fitness centers use as much outdoor space as possible.

Locker rooms, showers, saunas and steam rooms will remain closed under the revised health guidelines.

For personal care services, guidelines say hair salons and barbershops cannot take walk-ins but can book indoor customers by appointment. 

Many indoor businesses will have to modify layouts to enable social distancing. 

Other businesses and activities permitted to operate at limited capacity Monday include drive-in movies, places of worship, political activities and family entertainment, such as mini golf, batting cages and go-kart tracks. 

Only one person is allowed at one time for indoor prayer or campaign office use.

Hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, short-term rentals and inns can once again book rooms for tourists, with limitations. Short-term rentals must be booked for a whole property, not just for one room. Visitors will not be allowed inside guest rooms. 

The City expects to continue its reopening plans with another round next Monday, allowing indoor museums, zoos and aquariums to operate with limited capacity and health and safety plans in place. Additionally, in-person learning will resume on a rolling basis for transitional kindergarten through sixth grade students with extensive regulations and mitigation plans.

Monday saw the opening of 45 learning hubs to help support students through distance learning by providing technology and additional educational programming. Plans are in place to launch 100 hubs by mid-November.

Mayor London Breed said in a statement:

“We created the Community Hubs to make sure our City’s children and youth who are most vulnerable continue to have the support and resources they need to learn, grow, and thrive during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

As of Sept. 11, The City reported a total of 10,378 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 91 deaths from the virus.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.