Even though competitorGoodLifehas now temporarily ceased operations due to theCOVID-19 outbreak, Toronto gym chainHone Fitnesshas decided to remain open.

The popular no-contract budget facility received ample backlash after announcing via social media on March 15 that all its locations would remain open despite coronavirus fears and recent warnings against large gatherings and public spaces.

As a result, the company deleted the post in question and decided to shutter after all.

Then, on March 16, the Hone team changed its mind once again and stated that all its gyms would be opening to the public at 1 p.m.— a move made in response toa provincial press conferencein which Doug Ford said that Ontario had not yet reached the stage of ordering non-essential businesses to close their doors.

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A post shared by Hone Fitness Gym (@honefitness)onMar 16, 2020 at 9:16am PDT

Ford's statements came just hours before the recommendation from Toronto's medical officer of healththat businesses like bars and restaurants shut downso that residents can practice social distancing and curbcommunity spread of the virus.

Though Hone has cancelled group classes, ramped up cleaning measures, limited its opening hours and added sanitization stations and relevant signage throughout each of its gyms, it is still receiving flack for proudly staying open. Comments on its latest Instagram post about the news have been turned off.

The gym is also apparently refusing to allow customers to put their memberships on hold amid theglobal pandemic, though other fitness hubsare doing so.

asked@honefitnessabout pausing memberships because they closed the locations also because i don’t wanna go to the gym while all this is happening. got this replypic.twitter.com/6SA77tE0sj

— ً (@hotrocker420)March 16, 2020

Hone hasseven locationsacross the city, including at Queen and Bathurst, Queen and Spadina and Bloor and Christie.