Richmond gym owner defies Gov. Beshear's order, opens early

Richmond gym owner defies Gov. Beshear's order, opens early

Week...seven days earlier than the state is allowing.

Why?

He says gyms are essential...even though the state doesn't see it that way...and it's so important to him...he came to me so he could explain to all of you.

### "hopper" it's been more than two months... "you gotta sanitize your hands and sign in" ...since neil burns saw some of the clients he cares about so deeply.

He closed his gym march 16... after the governor announced gyms would have to shut down to slow the spread of covid-19.

"we got scared.

We closed a day early" ...scared of getting people sick...but he says people did anyway...just not from coronavirus.

"one client who gained 80 pounds in two months.

I have other clients that started smoking and depression.

Almost everybody that comes here has gained weight" it upset him so much... he couldn't hold back anymore.

He opened his doors monday...a week earlier than the governor's allowing.

"i will have to get arrested.

I'm not shutting down again."

He says the governor may not think so, but gyms are essential and should've reopened last month to keep immune systems and mental health strong.

"it's a place where we change lives and save lives.

When you have people calling you crying and i just couldn't take anymore " vj:"how much of this is about surviving financially?"

Neil:"honestly, we're so blessed with the people that come here that all of them pay their boot camp stuff anyway.

People that come here.

It's not about money at all..

"vj-what if people get sick with coronavirus because they workout here?

How would you feel?"

Neil: oh, i'd feel horrible anyone else would feel horrible, but we go through steps those steps include sanitizing... signing in for contact tracing...and social distancing using blue tape on the floor.

It's enough for the almost ten clients who showed up tuesday evening for class...and for personal training client jacob shackelford and mom alverta.

Alverta: "it's been the biggest blessing" shackelford says burns has donated time...to help jacob regain strength after his right side was paralyzed from a massive stroke three years ago...but in the last 70 days...he's lost almost all his new strength.

Mom says it's worth the coronavirus risk to get it back.

"alverta: "i was terrified in the beginning, but this is a small gym and like neil said, this is like family to us.

But the governor doesn't want people risking it.

I asked him what he thinks about burns reopening.

Group classes?

Well, i mean that's a way in a small area covid's certainly going to spread.

Some doctors call gyms the perfect storms for transmitting coronavirus with heavy breathing in an enclosed space.

"this gym owner with every other gym owner out there you're not special.

Everyone's in this together.

We're all trying to do the right things.

We can disagree on the timing of it, but everyone should have to follow their own rules.

The governor didn't confirm whether burns would face consequences...just that he's sure he'll be hearing from some people...but burns says he doens't care... he can't stand to see people suffering... as he says his clients have #### burns says he knows some of his clients won't feel comfortable coming back yet and he says that's okay...he'll continue offering free facebook live classes until june first.

### ots video tape:left not social distancing?