PLANTATION, Fla. ā A South Florida gym owner was released from jail early Tuesday morning, hours after he was arrested for allowing his gym members to choose whether or not they want to wear a face mask during workouts.
āRight now, Iām trusting that everythingās happening for a reason,ā Michael Carnevale said. āI was there for maybe six or seven hours. My wife posted bond for me.ā
Police officers showed up to Carnevaleās business, Fitness 1440 on West Broward Boulevard in Plantation, on Monday after someone reported that the 24-hour gym was violating Broward Countyās emergency order requiring masks.
Carnevale was ordered to shut it down, but he refused. He spoke to Local 10 News after he was first given a notice to appear in court and before officers took him into custody and locked his business.
Carnevale said he believes the orders to wear face coverings during the coronavirus pandemic are intrusive.
āIf this whole thing is really about health, this is where we are getting into some murky waters here because I donāt see how I can make my patrons wear a mask while on a treadmill, or while they are exercising,ā Carnevale said.
Last week, Carnevale joined a raucous anti-mask rally and filed a lawsuit against the county over its mask ordinance.
Although public health officials say there is evidence face coverings help stop the spread of COVID-19, Carnevale isnāt buying that.
āWeāve lost perspective, weāve lost common sense,ā he said.
āAre you worried youāre putting people at risk?ā Local 10ā²s Andrew Perez asked the gym owner on Monday.
āOne hundred percent I am,ā he responded. āI am super concerned about someone getting dizzy or fainting with a mask on while on a treadmill.ā
Gym members showed up the facility Tuesday to find it closed.
āI donāt think itās fair. They kept it clean. Everyone was social distancing,ā Alyssa Ramirez said.
Ramirez said working out with a mask on is easier said than done.
āI know Iāll pass out. I canāt workout with a mask on,ā she said. āYouāre sweating, youāre breathing hard. How am I supposed to breathe through the mask?ā
āWhat are you going to do now?ā Local 10 News reporter Saira Anwer asked.
āGo for a run in the park,ā Ramirez said. āThatās all I can do.ā
Carnevale sent a lengthy statement to Local 10 News on Tuesday, which read, in part:
āI respectfully told police that we would not be closing our doors as we were already locked down for another 3 months. After being arrested on the spot, my wife was then threatened with arrest if she did not comply with a 24 hour shutdown.ā