Click here for updates on this story
GRESHAM, OR (KPTV ) — A Portland gym owner says he is frustrated following the governor’s announcement on Friday of a two-week pause on social gatherings and increased restrictions for businesses like gyms and museums.
Under the new restrictions, only 50 people are allowed in all indoor public spaces, including bowling alleys, museums, and gyms.
Greg Eisenzimmer, general manager at Cascade Athletic Club in Gresham, says he is frustrated by the restrictions, as he has over 100,000-square-feet to socially distance his members. He says a fixed capacity really puts them in a tough spot.
“It’s tough,” Eisenzimmer said. “Any further restrictions on businesses right now is really difficult … it would make more sense if the governor would come in, or the Oregon Health Authority would come in and say ‘clubs need to operate at 50% capacity, 25% capacity or even 10% capacity.”
Eisenzimmer says when the club closed earlier this year, they had to lay off around 100 people.
“We had about 250 people across our three locations, and right now, we probably have about 150 on active payroll,” Eisenzimmer said.
Eisenzimmer believes another shutdown could be detrimental.
“If we had to close down again, I don’t know how we could afford to pay them,” Eisenzimmer said. “We’ve gone through so many of our reserves already just trying to limp to this point.”
Eisenzimmer says because the new restrictions were just announced on Friday, they’re still working to figure out how they can make change and implement them before Wednesday.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
Regulators authorized AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine for use in adults throughout the European Union on Friday, amid criticism the bloc is not moving fast enough to vaccinate its population.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation for altering an email that the Justice Department relied on during its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers lashed out Friday at rival Republicans who tried to repeal his statewide mask mandate, saying killing the order would be a ridiculous move comparable to abolishing speed limits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As some conservatives in South Carolina celebrated getting a bill that would ban almost all abortions in the state past a legislative barrier and likely becoming law, they said they are not finished trying to end all abortions.
A Moscow court on Friday put the brother and several allies of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny under house arrest for two months as authorities sought to stymie more protests over the jailing of the top Kremlin foe.