NJ COVID Update: Man banned from New Jersey Planet Fitness for wearing surgical mask

UNION TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (WABC) – A man from New Jersey is speaking out after saying he was banned from his local Planet Fitness because of a mask dispute – but not the kind you think.

“It’s so stupid, if you don’t mind me saying that,” said Jordan Binenstock. “It just doesn’t make sense. All the time, it doesn’t make sense.”

He says he showed up at his gym in Union Township wearing a surgical mask instead of a cloth.

“They wouldn’t let me in,” he said. “They wouldn’t let me in because I wasn’t wearing a cotton mask.”

It turns out that Planet Fitness prohibits surgical masks and Binenstock even recorded several interactions with employees confirming this.

“The surgical mask, we were told by the company, that it tends to tear or deteriorate when you wear it while sweating, when you exercise,” an employee told him. “So this is not allowed.”

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Binestock prefers the surgical mask because it does not irritate his skin, and is the same type that Governor Phil Murphy uses in his press conferences.

The governor’s executive order on the reopening of gyms “requires workers and customers to wear facial cloth covers”, but then says “nothing in the stated policy should prevent workers or customers from wearing a surgical-grade mask or other more protective facial cover. if the individual is already in possession of this equipment. “

A Planet Fitness spokesman responded with a statement.

“The safety and well-being of our team and members remains our number one priority,” he said. “Members and guests are allowed to wear disposable surgical masks at our New Jersey clubs” and that “We believe there was a miscommunication in the guidelines, and the Planet Fitness location is aware.”

But that did not seem to resolve the situation.

“I think the problem is that you have reached the corporate sector,” said Binenstock. “And the problem is, this is a franchise.”

Called his old gym, and for sure, he got the same answer.

“You can only use cotton or fabric,” they told him. “Non-surgical.”

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Binenstock’s says Planet Fitness has canceled its subscription and not only wants an apology, but also a refund.

“They lost a lot of time and money from customers,” he said.

Governor Murphy’s office told Eyewitness News that business should be flexible in allowing individuals to wear any CDC-compatible mask, including a surgical mask.

“The governor’s orders to use masks are intended to ensure that as many people as possible wear masks so that NJ residents can be more safely involved in certain activities, minimizing the spread of the virus,” a statement said. “We urge companies to be flexible in allowing individuals to wear any type of mask that is compatible with the CDC and adapts to the activity in question, as noted in Executive Order No. 192.”

If you think a company is violating a mask policy, you can file a complaint online by CLICKING HERE.

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