Ed Frack, who owns SuperSets in Hanover Township (Lehigh County), opened his gym May 24. He celebrated reopening with a Memorial Day weekend celebration, complete with grilled hot dogs. The opening was in violation of Gov. Tom Wolf’s continued closure order.

“We can’t live our lives in fear,” he said. “I applied for coronavirus funding, but I was denied. I don’t need the government’s money. I can make this business work. I invested in this place in October with a good business plan. We have customers from all around coming here,” Frack said.

SuperSets, at 2450 Schoenersville Road, is for people looking for a personalized, intensive fitness program.

He said he understood everyone wanted time to figure out what was happening when the virus first hit, but as the numbers came in, he said the computer models were wrong, counts were inflated and the suggested cure of hiding was worse than the virus.

Frack says he knows what he learned in high school is still valid: a person’s immune system determines one’s response to a virus. Staying inside and quarantined only activates the virus more, Frack said, adding the virus is inert until it attaches to a molecule.

The presidents of the area’s two leading hospitals, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network, recommended opening up businesses to facilitate combating the virus, he added.

“I think the governor ought to listen to the people who have some knowledge about how this virus can be conquered,” he said. “I have a good business, we have good clients, and I have a family to take care of.”

Frack said he has gone out of his way to be sure the gym is sanitary and has good air flow.

Pennsylvania state troopers showed up on opening day and issued a verbal warning. They said they received a complaint.

“I don’t want to cause any problems. They have a job to do. If they receive another complaint, they will be back. We are going to stay open,” Frack said.

Troopers returned May 25 and issued Frack two citations for continuing to operate prematurely.