The Recreation Centers of Sun City West’s COVID Task Force has extended the closure of the fitness centers and indoors pools through at least Monday, Feb. 15.
The Rec Centers has been tracking state, county and local case counts in determining its position. Charting the number of cases in zip code 85375 shows a drastic incline in cases since just after the Thanksgiving holiday. The trend has not slowed.
Additionally, the White House’s Coronavirus Report this week showed Arizona leads the country for new cases, deaths and hospital admissions due to COVID.
“We continue to head in the wrong direction,” said General Manager Bill Schwind. “As we’ve said all along, we will follow the science and take our lead from health officials, who are warning we are not nearly out of the woods yet. The state’s vaccination program is starting to find its groove, and as more and more people are vaccinated, we will see the trend start slowing. We’re all looking forward to that decline. We want to get the facilities open as soon as possible.”
The extended closure covers the fitness centers and indoor pools, in line with the attestation the Rec Centers filed when the COVID closures first started. Chartered clubs were not affected by this attestation, but several of the clubs have closed on their own accord. A list of which clubs are closed and which are open with restrictions can be found at suncitywest.com/covid19. Mask mandates remain in effect at all indoor facilities.
Other departments within the Association remain status quo. Residents should check the website for the latest. As of now, the departments open/closed schedule is as follows:
Fitness Centers (including indoor swimming pools and spas, racquetball, table tennis, massage, personal training and group fitness): Closed through at least Feb. 15. The closure will be extended if needed. Outdoor facilities (tennis, pickleball, lawn bowls, walking tracks, bocce, mini golf, etc.) will remain open. Equipment is available for rent at the activities center, and is cleaned between users.
Golf & Sports Pavilion: Open with existing precautions in place.
Clubs: Most open with the exception of social clubs and those that can’t physically distance. Those clubs that are open are strongly encouraged to enact voluntary closures at this time; closures may be mandated in the future.
Member Services: By appointment only. Call 623-544-6100.
Administrative/Governing Board Offices: By appointment only. Call 623-544-6000.
Library: Curbside pickup for materials; Data Resource by appointment only. Call 623-544-6130 but expect wait times on the phone.
Village Store: Open with precautions in place.
For the latest COVID information from the Rec Centers, visit suncitywest.com/COVID19, and sign up for the weekly Enews at suncitywest.com.
COVID-19 cases in the Sun City West zipcode (85375)
Data provided from Arizona Department of Health Services COVID-19 data dashboard
A cumulative number of people tested from SCW is not very useful when looking at about 6 month worth of data. Most of those cases are not currently active. It is a total, but how many died? It appears that the upward swing coincides with the influx of snowbirds. Any information on that?
Please keep in mind that the snowbirds pay the same amount for Rec fees as full time citizens. Many are only here for a few months. The Rec Centers and pools need to be open. People who are not comfortable going should stay away. No one will force them to go. Also, many people have been vaccinated or have had Covid and recovered. Not a good move to keep them closed. Many upset people!
Please follow science Open the pools. I think it is a great way for you to make money by not opening our recreation centers. You don’t have to pay money to your employees.
You don’t need to use cleaning services etc. I don’t think this new year is a good look for Sun City West to be raising the rec fees.
Nope…not a good year to be raising rec fees. Got that, Schwind ??
Please post a copy of the Sun City West Attestation you filed with the County. I want to read it and come to my own interpretation of the agreement. Thank you.
I have a idea, When you open on the 15th only let members wo have proof of vaccunation in.
I am sorry, but that would not work. There are some of us that can not have the currently available vaccines due to severe allergies.
That is not a answer. I am 81 and will get my shot on 20 Feb. I would like to know the number of cases from SCW residences. We need to open up.
I’m not 65 yet so don’t qualify for vaccine, but am a full time resident in SCW as well. I follow all protocol though and think we should be allowed to use the services we pay for.
I agree. Until everyone who resides in SUN City West is eligible for the vaccine, it would not be fair to limit participants to those who have been vaccinated. To do otherwise would be age discrimination.
We are tenants and only one of us is allowed to purchase a rec card does that make sense? I would think the rec center would want to make a bit more money with both purchasing a card.
I am concerned that you are looking at the wrong data. Please examine the number of hospitalizations versus the number of cases. Number of cases is a direct reusult of number of testings whereas number of hospitalization shows the severity within the community. In addition, just like the schools, I ask you to consider if you are doing more harm than good by keeping the fitness centers closed when you allow bowling (a closed environment).
It’s truly unfortunate that the only comments are critical at best and overwhelmingly negative in one case. I can read a graph and determine the number of cases between Christmas 2020 and today. It may not be a huge number and hopefully everyone has recovered. Thank you so much for erring on the side of caution. I appreciate your efforts even if there is some inconvenience. I know my daughter who is an RN in ICU appreciates your adherence to scientific protocols! She would love to go back to working 8 hour days instead of working 3 12-hour graveyard ICU shifts! I’m more than happy to do my part for the overall initiative to stop the spread and get back to a safe normal ASAP!
Yes Yes Yes! We as a people have never experienced a time when we were told NO we cant go have fun whenever we want. I think WWII comes closest to a time we all had to sacrifice for the greater good. Mental health will be part of the sacrifice, but in the long run history will look at lives lost. Our front line workers are the most important right now, at this moment in history. Many are blind, or just too selfish to care, as to what front line workers sacrifice to be there when we are in need. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT ANSWER! We must understand what we don’t understand. To err on the side of caution and care for your nurses, doctors, etc is in everyone’s best interest. Now and Always!
Are the outside pools open? The notice above doesn’t make that clear. It’s nearly impossible to reach anyone at the rec centers office. The level of customer service is very low considering the mandatory fees. Count me amongst the residents who are opposed to the fee increase at a time when the facilities have been closed for an extended time!
I would like to see a copy of the guidelines you are following that’s keeping the fitness centers closed. Other fitness centers are opened in the county. To stay healthy, especially as we age, we need exercise. Not everyone is a golfer or pickleball player. The best thing we can do for our immune system is eat the right diet, get plenty of EXERCISE and good sleep. You are not ‘keeping us safe” by locking us out of the buildings we are maintaining with our rec fees.
Patricia, the fitness centers are safer than the bowling allies especially if they limit the patrons but you don’t hear anything about closing down that facility.
Not everyone is entitled to a vaccination just yet. You need to be over 65. Not all SCW residents are.