Gold’s Gym in the US is to close all company-owned gyms until March 31, 2020, to do its part in slowing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Gold’s Gym CEO and president Adam Zeitsiff said “This is not a business decision but a humanity decision. We want to protect our community and people of all ages by doing what we can to flatten the disease’s curve.

“To fight this virus, we have to stand firm with everyone who is working to contain the spread. We are truly stronger together.”

Zeitsiff made the decision to offer free premium access for members and non-members to the company’s digital personal training app, until May 31, 2020.

The app has more than 600 indoor and outdoor workouts with audio and video guidance. Gold’s is also launching on-demand streaming video workouts. Both digital fitness options are available to the public at www.goldsgym.com/anywhere.

Whether or not franchised gyms will close is up to the individual franchisee, Gold’s reported.  All Gold’s Gym locations have focused on stepping up all sanitary procedures and practices to protect their members and team members in response to the public health crisis.

Gold’s Gym began as a small gym in Venice, California, and since  grown into a global brand with more than 700 locations serving 3 million people across six continents each day.

Last year, after a 36 month search, the icon business signed a deal to build a franchise presence across Australia. Thirty studios were cited as the growth target.

Gold’s will join a long list of US-based fitness chains seeking out new territories across the Pacific in Australia and New Zealand, including Anytime Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, Xtend Barre, 9Round, Snap Fitness and Curves.