COVID-19 Update 22/11/21

You can upload your COVID pass via this link here

To help keep everyone safe, we are following the government mandate that during the initial red and orange levels of the traffic light system, all members must be vaccinated.

Please use the link above to upload your pass so that when we open from 12 am Friday 3rd December that you will be good to go.

If you have not already, please get your Vaccine Pass from https://mycovidrecord.health.nz

The Government has announced a new COVID-19 Protection Framework which we are expecting will come into effect throughout the country in early December 2021. It will adopt a 3-level “traffic light” approach to managing Covid-19 and involve the use of vaccination certificates via the My Vaccine Pass.

This new system provides us with some certainty that we can remain open by implementing the Compulsory Vaccination Certificate (CVC) requirements and this also provides certainty for our members once we move into the Covid-19 Protection Framework.

Gyms can only open if they have Compulsory Vaccination Certificate (CVC) requirements in place.

RED:
Gyms can open with restrictions if vaccination certificates are used via My Vaccine Pass. Gyms will be able to open with up to 100 people, based on 1-metre physical distancing.

ORANGE:
Gyms can open with no capacity or distancing restrictions if vaccination certificates are used.

Yes. For our Gym to open at all levels of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, Forge Fitness will be following the vaccination certificate entry requirement.

From the date on which the COVID-19 Protection Framework goes live for Auckland, we will require members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before entry to the gym.

The Ministry of Health is building a verifier app called NZ Pass Verifier for companies to use to scan and verify a My Vaccine Pass.

Although we are still waiting on details to be announced, the plan is to offer two options to validate your My Vaccine Pass with us:

All members will be required to present their My Vaccine Pass to a staff member on the first visit to the gym once the new framework is in place. This needs to happen during staffed hours. Your Vaccine Pass can be presented in either digital or print form.

We are also working on accepting a digital copy of your My Vaccine Pass via email. We will let you know more details when they are available.

Your vaccination status will be loaded against your membership profile, so you won’t need to show your My Vaccine Pass on future visits to the gym. Forge Fitness will not retain a copy of your My Vaccine Pass.

Once we move to the new framework, your Key Fob access will be disabled until you have completed the My Vaccine Pass verification process. Once that is completed, your Key Fob will be reactivated, giving you 24/7 access to the gym.

Please note that My Vaccine Pass certificates are valid for 6 months from the date of issue, so you will need to present your new My Vaccine Pass certificate each time it is issued or re-issued.

No personal details are held in our system. We will simply verify your vaccination status solely to implement this new entry requirement so that your Key Fob can be activated for access to the gym.

If you do not wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19, you don’t have to give up your Forge Fitness membership, however, you will not be able to use the gym whilst this system is in place. We can put you on a Special Covid-19 Hold for up to six months. If you want to cancel your membership because of your choice to not be vaccinated against Covid-19, please follow the instructions on how to cancel on our webpage.

We will follow Government regulations concerning Covid-19 Vaccine Exemptions and follow processes that are consistent with Government mandates regarding verification and entry into the gym.

Yes. In line with the Government mandate, and so we can operate at all levels of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, Forge Fitness will be implementing a vaccination certificate entry requirement for our staff, contractors, visitors, and prospective members.

We will be updating our General Terms (as incorporated into your membership agreement) to include a requirement for members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to entry to the gym.

Please visit reception during office hours, and we will issue you with another one for a small fee, once we have confirmed your My Vaccine Pass status.

All members must have their My Vaccine Pass scanned and their key fob enabled for access prior to using the gym.

All members must scan their key fob for entry to the gym on every visit.

If you use someone else’s key fob or follow a member into the gym without scanning your own key fob, you are in breach of your conditions of membership and may have your membership cancelled with immediate effect.

We are following ExerciseNZ’s guidelines on best practices for keeping members safe at all times, which have been developed with both Sport New Zealand and Worksafe using the Ministry of Health’s protocols.

We will put in place extensive processes and protocols to ensure your safety:
• Physical distancing of at least 1m (at Red level)
• Perspex screen at the reception window
• Sanitisation stations
• Further equipment cleaning
• Mandatory sweat towel usage
• Bringing your own boxing equipment
• COVID-19 Conditions of Entry to the gym
• Water fountains are only for filling bottles. The drinking spout will be isolated.
• Our staff will be wearing masks

We ask that every member takes responsibility for their personal hygiene and also respects the space of others. That means wearing a mask at all times except when exercising, washing/sanitising hands, covering coughs and sneezes, keeping at least 1m from the nearest person, bringing your own towel and using it, and bringing your own boxing gloves, and not sharing or touching anything that you don’t have to.

Yes, you will see more cleaning taking place during the day and at night we will continue doing our thorough cleaning protocol. We ask that you wipe down equipment before and after use to help us keep the equipment clean.

You must wear a mask at all times except when exercising, so when entering the gym and moving to/or using the bathrooms. We encourage you to wear one whenever possible. This follows ExerciseNZ’s protocols based on the Government’s guidelines.

No. Masks and face coverings that are suitable are either reusable fabric masks or disposable non-medical masks. Here are the Ministry of Health guidelines.

No, but you will need to present your Mask Exemption Card or letter from your doctor at Reception, prior to entering the gym. We know that some people have a disability or health condition where they may not be able to wear a face mask safely or comfortably. Mask Exemption Cards are issued by the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ (DPA). While at the gym please carry your Mask Exemption Card with you in case you are questioned by concerned members or staff.

At the Red level, we will be following a distance rule of at least 1m between people in the gym. All equipment has been spaced at least 1m apart and we ask that you observe people’s personal space.

It’s all about hygiene and minimising the risk of spreading nasty germs and bacteria. A sweat towel helps mop up sweat, without a towel you’re more likely to use your hands to wipe the sweat away, which in turn can spread bacteria.

No towel = no workout. This will be strictly policed, and you will be asked to leave if you have not brought your towel with you to use during your workout.

Our staff have undergone training and will be abiding by all physical distancing, room limitation, and other COVID-19 Protection Framework restrictions. You will notice our staff will be wearing masks and at the Reception window, we will have a Perspex barrier in place to protect your health and theirs.

If you have been diagnosed as having COVID-19 and have recovered, we will require medical clearance for you as well as evidence of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. You can then return to the gym as long as you follow all COVID-19 processes and protocols including personal hygiene expectations.

We chose to continue with member payments as after the last lockdowns we have learnt this is a far simpler way of doing things, and instead, we will offer a membership credit when we reopen, and we hope you can understand this. We would however really appreciate it if you could consider supporting us by not seeking a credit, or only asking for a partial credit, however, all requests will be honoured.

We are a 100% locally owned small business with continuing rent and overheads and the Government subsidies were insufficient to cover all our costs. Lockdown costs are substantial, and we do need ‘the power of many’ for your gym to be healthy and fit when we reopen.

Monday – Wednesday 9.00am – 12 Noon & 3.00pm – 7.30pm
Thursday & Friday 9.00am – 12 Noon & 3.00pm – 6.00pm
Saturday 9.00am – 1.00pm
The office is closed on Sundays and on Public Holidays.