Dear Members,

Welcome back!! Governor Tim Walz announced Friday that gyms and fitness centers are allowed to reopen on Wednesday, June 10!! Northgate Health Club will open at 5 a.m. on June 10th!! We are looking forward to seeing you again and meeting some new friends as well!

With the ongoing concerns about COVID-19, we need to put additional safety practices in place at Northgate Health Club. Some of these practices are temporary and will evolve as the governor allows in future phases of the Stay Safe reopening plan. You, the member, have a very important role in keeping yourself, other members and employees safe. Cleaning equipment before and after use, personal hygiene and only entering the fitness facility when you are in good health are your responsibility.

Northgate Health Club is deeply committed to serving the health and well-being of our members, guests and employees. We must do all we can through precautions aimed at stopping the spread of this virus. A list of those precautions and what you can do to help stop the spread of disease is below. While we feel a sense of responsibility to get this right for both the health of our members and the success of our business, we agree with the governor’s comment on Friday that it is also up to you as a member to take on the personal responsibility to keep yourself and other members safe as well. Each of us is entering the facility at our own risk. The recommendations we provide ultimately come down to personal responsibility. You must assess the risk, take great care through good hygiene and mask wearing, and then engage in those activities that feel safe to you.

We will continue to share updates through posted signage, through social media and email communication. Please check with the front desk to be sure we have your correct contact information.

During the closure, we felt it only appropriate to put members’ accounts on hold and payments should not have come out of your account. With the reopening, all account suspensions will be liftedand your membership and payment date will be extended by the 85 days Northgate Health Club was closed, so you won’t lose any of the membership days you contracted for! If you have questions about your account, please send an email to info@northgatehealthclub.comand Ronaele will get back to you as quickly as time allows.

Finally, please bring your patience and flexibility with you as we work to make these new safety procedures as seamless as possible. We are all in this together. Welcome back to Northgate Health Club!

Dan and Ronaele Hoffman
Northgate Health Club Owners

Cleaning and Safety Procedures

• Closing at 9:00 p.m. each day to allow time for the staff to complete additional cleaning and sanitation
• Entrance screening: temperature check and verbal confirmation that member is symptom free – please follow social distancing at entrance to facilitate this added check-in time
• Member count tracking to assure occupancy limits are met (25% in Minnesota’s Staying Safe Phase 3)
• Limits on indoor group fitness classes – 10 per class in fitness classroom and swimming pool, 5 in spinning classroom
• Occupancy limits and social distancing required in whirlpoolsand shower/locker room areas
• Saunas will remain closed
• Family swim time will not be available during this phase
• Social distancing of at least six feet in the facility will be strictly enforced – some machines have been spaced further apart or removed, loitering is discouraged, and directional signage/tape has been added
• Members MUST wear masks per the city mask mandate while in the facility – during heavy exercise, members may remove their masks as needed, but be sure to re-mask when moving through and exiting the facility
• Drinking fountains will not be available, but our touchless water-filling station will be open
• Our coffee station will remain closed at this time as food/drink may not be shared communally
• Personal Training will resume, but members must communicate directly with the trainer for available training times and personal trainers will follow social distancing and masking requirements.

You can help stop the spread of disease by following these guidelines:

1) IF YOU ARE SICK OR EXPERIENCING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS, DO NOT COME TO NORTHGATE HEALTH CLUB:
a. Fever (temperature of 100°F or 38°C) or chills
b. Cough
c. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
d. Fatigue
e. Muscle or body aches
f. Headache
g. New loss of taste or smell
h. Sore throat
i. Congestion or runny nose
j. Nausea or vomiting
k. Diarrhea
2) If you are in a “high-risk” category, you may want to consider delaying your return to Northgate Health Club.
3) When you enter and check in, you will need to answer screening questions and have your temperature taken. If you answer “yes” to any of the screening questions or your temperature is above 100°F or 38°C, you will not be allowed to enter the Northgate Health Club.
4) Bring your own water bottle and other personal equipment (yoga mats, bands, towels, etc.).
5) Pre-plan your workout to avoid lingering and maintain social distancing.
6) Clean all equipment before and after use.
7) Maintain social distancing and wear a mask when possible.

City of Rochester Mask Mandate

 
On July 6, 2020, Mayor Kim Norton signed an amendment to the emergency declaration regarding COVID-19 Precautions in Rochester that requires face masks in indoor public areas effective July 8, 2020. The section specifically addressing gyms states:
 
Gyms, Fitness Centers and Sports Facilities participates, staff and spectators are required to wear a face covering at all times when the individual is within six feet of another person. For purposes of this Order, pools, trampoline parks, gymnastics facilities, hockey/skating arenas and climbing walls are considered Sports Facilities.