Let’s be real: 2020 is wild. between the pandemic, the shutdowns, the curfews, and the conflicts, nobody knows what to expect anymore. this year is full of big, unexpected challenges, but you know what?
We’re still here. At City Fitness, we’re reimagining ourselves and our work to meet this
moment head-on. Every day, we push our members, partners, and staff to rise to the
occasion. To use adversity as an opportunity to transform. Now, it’s our turn to dig deep.
We’ve installed a state-of-the-art air purification system in all of the HVAC units in all 6 of our clubs.
This patented technology, needlepoint bipolar ionization purifies the air by eliminating airborne particulates, odors and pathogens providing an even safer environment inside our clubs!
The manufacturer we chose, Global Plasma Solutions is the pioneer of needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI) technology. NPBI produces ions (just like Mother Nature creates with lightning, waterfalls and ocean waves) and delivers the ions to the indoor air stream through the HVAC system. The high concentration of + and - ions attach to and break down pathogens and harmful compounds, cleaning the air and surfaces where ions travel. The ions deactivate viruses and bacteria by robbing them of hydrogen. NPBI is safe, healthy and doesn't produce any ozone or other harmful by-products (UL and CE approved). You can read more about the technology here. You can learn more about how NPBI technology works in the video below:
Again, these systems have been installed in every single HVAC unit across all of our clubs. All indoor spaces at City Fitness, including our studios, are now supplied with air that is treated by Global Plasma Solutions NPBI.
If you’ve visited our clubs, you know our Clean Team works continuously. Their meticulous processes keep our surfaces not just sparkling, but thoroughly disinfected. This has always been the case at City Fitness, but because of covid-19, we have responded with even higher cleaning standards.
We disinfect surfaces on increased set schedules. That ensures any surface you’re likely to touch—including weights; equipment handles and buttons; railings; counters; and handles and buttons throughout the building—has been hit with a medical-grade disinfectant in the past 3 hours. (Additionally, members are required to wipe equipment with disinfectant wipes before and after use.)
Each night, we deep clean the clubs, which includes spraying surfaces, floors, and equipment with medical-grade disinfectant.
We use medical-grade disinfectants that are proven effective against coronavirus in all our continuous and deep cleaning processes.
We’ve also invested in chemical sprayers to thoroughly and efficiently disinfect surfaces throughout our clubs.
Our Clean Team is going through a thorough training process in preparation for our reopening. Each team member will be armed with a refreshed and refocused understanding of our protocols to ensure they’re followed consistently. Additionally, we believe every member of our team has a role to play in our commitment to cleanliness, so we are cross-training other employees to help us maintain our high standards.
We added several additional stations at each club to make it more convenient for members to sanitize and disinfect equipment before and after use. Our sanitizing and disinfectant wipes clean, deodorize & fight bacteria and viruses on contact. The disinfectant wipes are also proven effective in killing coronavirus. Our Staff walk the gym floor on set schedules to make sure dispensers are full and to remind members to wipe down equipment after each use.
Pro tip: Wait a few minutes after wiping down your equipment. All disinfectant wipes take time to kill germs—usually 4 to 10 minutes. The wipes we use have a best-in-class kill time of 4 minutes.
Our clubs are equipped with touch-free hand sanitizer stations throughout, filled with a sanitizer that contains 70% percent ethyl alcohol, exceeding the CDC’s recommendation for the covid-19 virus.
We’ve upgrading amenities throughout our clubs to create a contactless experience where possible. All sink faucets, soap dispensers, water bottle fillers, and hand sanitizer dispensers are touchless.
We’ve reduced our capacity by more than 50 percent, exceeding the state’s requirement, to make sure everyone has plenty of space. We’re monitoring capacity with careful processes for booking, check in, and check out.
Members are required to book club visits in advance. Booking for club visits will follow the same process as our studio classes, using our app or online schedule.
We’re adding extra scanners at the front desk to help with traffic flow and avoid lines or crowding at the front desk.
Members and staff are required to give each other 6 feet of space at all times. Signage and floor markers throughout the club help facilitate safe physical distancing. We ask everyone to work together and respect each other’s space.
In some areas, every other machine is blocked off to enable physical distancing. In areas where this is not possible—for example, where there is only one of each machine—we are enforcing an “every other machine” policy. This means if your machine is within 6 feet of another machine, you must wait for the other machine to be vacant before you can use your machine. This practice will be monitored and enforced by staff.
Members are required to confirm they are not experiencing symptoms, and have not been in contact with someone who has covid-19, when booking an appointment.
Members are asked to contact memberexperience@cityfitnessphilly.com immediately if they test positive for covid-19 within 14 days of their last club visit. We will notify anyone who was potentially exposed over email.
We limit capacity and set up each session to ensure every member has at least a 6-foot radius of their own space. During the workouts, coaches will maintain appropriate distance: Hands-on help will be provided only for safety purposes.
We’ve engineered our WE/FIT workouts so you don’t have to share equipment.
Each WE/FIT studio is shut down after every session for disinfection. We use disinfectant that is proven effective against coronavirus to disinfect all equipment and surfaces members touch—including floors.
In addition to our in-studio WE/FIT sessions, we’re also offering sessions outdoors in East Market, Fishtown, and South Philly. You can find these sessions on our regular schedules, marked as “Outdoor.”
We’re continuing to offer WE/FIT sessions live and on demand through City Fitness Live, our streaming platform, for anyone who wants to train with us from home.
We limit capacity and set up each training group to ensure every member has at least a 6-foot radius of their own space. During the workouts, coaches will maintain appropriate distance: Hands-on help will be provided only for safety purposes.
Each Thrive pod is shut down after every session for disinfection. We use disinfectant that is proven effective against coronavirus to disinfect all equipment and surfaces members touch—including floors and turf.
We’ve engineered our Thrive workouts so you don’t have to share equipment or move around the pod. Members can stay in their own areas, with their own equipment, throughout their workouts. (Any equipment that needs to be shared, such as boxes, will be thoroughly disinfected between every individual use.)
We’re adding hand sanitizer stations at the entry of all Thrive pods and increasing the number of disinfectant wipe stations throughout. All Thrive coaches will have hand sanitizer on them at all times.
We’re continuing to offer Thrive Anywhere, our virtual training program, for anyone who wants to train with us from home.
We limit capacity and set up each session to ensure every member has at least a 6-foot radius of their own space. During the workouts, instructors will offer verbal and visual coaching cues, but won’t make any hands-on adjustments.
Note: To ensure we can provide adequate distance for all members throughout class, late entry is not allowed.
We’ve engineered our studio workouts so you don’t have to share equipment.
Each studio is shut down after every session for disinfection. We use disinfectant that is proven effective against coronavirus to disinfect all equipment and surfaces members touch—including floors.
In addition to our in-studio classes, we’re also offering classes outdoors in East Market, Fishtown, and South Philly. You can find these sessions on our regular schedules, marked as “Outdoor.”
We’re continuing to offer studio classes live and on demand through City Fitness Live, our streaming platform, for anyone who wants to train with us from home.
Our limited club capacity will reduce the number of people in the locker rooms. Members are required to remain 6 feet away from each other at all times.
Locker rooms and bathrooms are cleaned several times per day. We use medical-grade disinfectant that is proven effective in killing coronavirus for all surfaces members touch.
Showers are available to use within your workout appointment window. Masks are not required while you are physically in the shower stall, but are still mandatory everywhere else in the locker room. Towels are also available.
We’ve temporarily removed high-touch amenities like curling irons and hair dryers to eliminate surface risk and prevent crowding. Saunas and steam rooms are also temporarily unavailable. We will inform everyone when they are put back into service.
Temporarily unavailable During our initial reopening period, the following amenities will be temporarily unavailable: coworking space; saunas; and steam rooms. We miss them, too, and will put them back into service as soon as we can.
Face masks are required and will be provided for all employees.
Employees can receive paid leave above and beyond their normal PTO to use if they are quarantined or experiencing covid-19 symptoms, making sure employees aren’t pressured to come to work when infected.
Employees will be required to confirm they are not experiencing symptoms, and have not been in contact with someone who has covid-19, before clocking in.
Employees are encouraged to work remotely when possible.
Community safety is a team effort. We need your help!
All members will be asked to confirm they are not experiencing symptoms, and have not been in contact with someone who has covid-19, when they book an appointment.
Appointments are now required for all club visits. Follow the same process to book a club visit as you would to book a studio class, using your app or our online schedule. Full instructions here.
Appointments are for members only; guest privileges are temporarily on hiatus due to limited capacity.
In accordance with city guidelines, masks are required to enter the club and must be worn at all times inside the club, even while working out. City officials will be conducting unannounced inspections and will close the gym if anyone is unmasked.
Note: At our outdoor workouts, masks are required when entering and moving throughout the Summer Camp space. In line with city guidelines, masks are optional when you’re exercising outdoors as long as you’re able to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others. (Our spaces are arranged to make sure everyone has at least 7 feet of space from others during workouts.)
Respect each other's space. Use your best efforts to keep 6 feet away from your neighbors at all times.
In some areas, every other machine is blocked off to enable physical distancing. In areas where this is not possible—for example, where there is only one of each machine—we are enforcing an “every other machine” policy. This means if your machine is within 6 feet of another machine, you must wait for the other machine to be vacant before you can use your machine. As always, please be courteous and don’t loiter on machines. Working in with one another is not allowed at this time.
Wipe down all equipment with disinfecting wipes before and after every use.
Pro tip: Wait a few minutes after wiping down your equipment. All disinfectant wipes take time to kill germs—usually 4 to 10 minutes. The wipes we use have a best-in-class kill time of 4 minutes.
We’ve added many more hand sanitation stations. Use the hand sanitizer to clean your hands when you enter the gym and regularly throughout your visit. If you do have to sneeze and you do not have your mask on, please sneeze into your towel or elbow.
Contact memberexperience@cityfitnessphilly.com ASAP if you test positive for covid-19 within 14 days of your last club visit. We will notify anyone who was potentially exposed over email.
