Find a Way Fitness in Raleigh linked to at least 40 COVID-19 cases

Originally closed for two weeks from Nov. 21, owners Kevin and Tasha Gidrey said they'd stay closed for the rest of the year. The Gidreys are among those who tested positive.

“Our main priority always is the wellbeing of our community, and the community in general, and we would never do anything to put anyone in harm’s way,” Tasha Gidrey said.

The Gidreys do not know where outbreak began, but they said it was a member of the gym who got precautionary testing that alerted them to what was happening.

Natalie Blain is a member of the gym who also tested positive. She felt like the gym did everything it could to protect its patrons.

“Nobody wears masks,” Blain said. “That was an option, but nobody opted for that. It’s a little difficult to do boot camp or workout without a mask on, let alone with a mask on.”

The business has been open since November 2019, and had 50-60 people in classes before the pandemic began. Now, they have 35 people or fewer per class.

“It could have been any gym, and I am shocked it hasn’t happened to more gyms,” Blain said. “I am really surprised.”

Tasha Gidrey has a few words of advice for other small business owners.

“Do everything you possibly can to protect your members and clients and customers so you can feel 100 percent confident knowing you did everything you could to try to prevent the spread of this pandemic,” she said.

“This is worse now than ever before. Be really careful.”