Dear YMCA Community:
The spread of the COVID-19 virus and community responses have accelerated, and breaking news updates are nearly constant. The virus is in present throughout the United States including 26 confirmed cases in Michigan, and now one in Bay County (a Saginaw Covenant physician according to TV-5 news last evening).
This new phase calls for us to adjust while we continue to monitor and plan. Changes include:
- Hours of operation. Maintain our normal hours for now. Subject to change.
- Classes. Suspend Group Ex. Classes, Group Swim Lessons, and Masters Swim.
- Gyms. Close the gyms daily.
- Day Camp. Work to provide emergency Day Camp programs the weeks of 3/23 and 3/30 with limited enrollment.
- Feeding. Expand our Mission Nutrition feeding programs within our capacity.
- Meetings. Suspend all unessential meetings.
These alterations to schedule and program are effective Monday 3/16/2020. As you can understand, all plans are subject to change as local health conditions change.
Part of our Social Responsibility is to minimize transmission or exposure to those who are most at risk. We know that you will exercise personal responsibility and choice with regards to your activity, but out of an abundance of caution for your health and safety, we ask that you follow advice of health professionals with regards to social distancing and consider staying at home if you are in a higher risk category, over 60 years old, or have an underlying health condition.
We have emphasized that the best guidance and information is available from these sources:
Center for Disease Control’s website:
Michigan.gov coronavirus link:
Saginaw County Health Department:
Our custodial personnel and all Y-staff have increased efforts to sanitize objects and surfaces most frequently touched (desktops, doorknobs, etc.) based on guidance from the Center for Disease Control.
We will continue to monitor the CDC and local and state health official recommendations and provide up to date communications with our YMCA stakeholders.
The possibility of YMCA closure exists as local conditions change. We will follow the advice of the CDC and government agencies including our County Health Department, and Y-USA. Even if our building is ordered closed, the YMCA mission will be active. The Y will need your help at this time as much as ever as we work to continue to feed youth in our community and do our part to provide for basic needs.
Steve Meyer, President and CEO, YMCA of Saginaw
