#De Blasio says NYC gyms not reopening anytime soon

New York City residents who packed on some pandemic pounds during the coronavirus lockdown will have to wait a while before they start hitting the gym again.

Even though Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday that fitness centers across the state can reopen under new, COVID-19-related restrictions next week, City Hall said people living in the Big Apple shouldn’t plan on pumping iron any time soon.

That’s because when it comes to safety inspections, exercise is taking a back seat to education and daycare.

“There’s no higher priority than making sure our schools and child care centers are safe for learning in the fall, and the City’s dedicated team of inspectors will continue prioritizing that work,” Mitch Schwartz, a spokesman for Mayor Bill de Blasio, said in an email.

Schwartz declined to set a timetable for when gyms would be back in business but noted that the city had already opted out of allowing indoor fitness classes and reopening indoor pools “at this time.”

“We’ll be developing a fair and rigorous inspection system for other gym setups in the coming weeks,” he said.