More than 200 Planet Fitness users warned of possible coronavirus exposure in West Virginia

A West Virginia county warned more than 200 Planet Fitness users that they could have been exposed to the coronavirus if they visited the gym last Wednesday.

The Monongalia County Health Department (MCHD) released a statement on Saturday requesting all attendees of the Planet Fitness in Morgantown on June 24 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to quarantine in their homes and monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19. 

The announcement comes after the health department learned on Saturday that a gym client who worked out there last Wednesday had tested positive for COVID-19.

The county estimates about 205 people were at the gym during that time period. Health officials are instructing gym users present then to quarantine for 14 days until July 8.

A Monday press release indicated the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. time period was decided upon “to cast as wide a net as possible.” 

Lee B. Smith, the MCHD executive director and county health officer, said the gym goers should try to avoid others in their homes and only leave to get medical care. 

“We wanted to reach people as quickly as possible, so they could make good decisions about avoiding public places, wearing a mask and following other guidelines for individuals who have been potentially exposed,” Smith said in the Monday release.

A Morgantown Planet Fitness client has been tested and anyone who was there during a certain window is being asked to quarantine and monitor for symptoms.
Read more: https://t.co/hpmtUcKTxq#wvmchd #covid19 pic.twitter.com/n0EUQd8zOt

— Mon Co. Health Dept (@WVMCHD) June 27, 2020

The Morgantown Planet Fitness location has shut down for “additional deep cleaning” out of “an abundance of caution and in the interest of the community,” according to a voice message when The Hill called the location. It plans to reopen Tuesday at 6 a.m.

Planet Fitness spokeswoman McCall Gosselin said gym officials have been working with county health officials after learning a client tested positive.

“We will continue to take every necessary precaution to ensure the safety of our community, and we have taken a number of steps across all of our locations, which include enhanced cleanliness and sanitization policies and procedures, extensive training for staff, physical distancing measures, reducing physical touch points in the club with touchless check-in, and more,” the statement said.

The county has confirmed 157 COVID-19 cases and five deaths as of Monday evening, according to West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources. West Virginia has recorded 2,870 cases total, with 93 deaths, according to the state health department.

West Virginia’s gyms reopened in mid-May.