UPDATE:
423 F STREET -
PERMANANT CLOSURE.
August 1
I've just sent my notifications clients, colleagues. A copy of my letter appears below.
June 21
The risks to reopen at this time remain the same as I detail in the sections below.
The California Massage Therapy Council posts an online informational forum podcast
that becomes available on July 2 at 2 PM where I can learn more about the specifics of requirements for operating a Massage Therapy business during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency.
JUNE 12
CAMTC COVID-19 Bulletin #20
Dear CAMTC Certificate Holders:
CAMTC has just received notice that the California Department of Public Health will be releasing guidelines for re-opening massage therapy on June 12, 2020, with a recommended implementation date of no earlier than June 19, 2020.
REOPENING MAY OCCUR ONLY IF LOCAL JURISDICTION PERMITS (YOLO CO. & CITY of DAVIS). State allows local jurisdiction to regulate independent mandates in matters pertaining to public health.
No current updates available at this time for the intentions of Yolo Co. or City of Davis.
JUNE 10, 2020 CAMTC COVID-19 Bulletin #19: Closure mandate remain in effect.
MAY 29, 2020
California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC): COVID-19 Bulletin #18
5 days. 3 mandate changes. 2 webpage re-writes. As of May 29, closure mandate remain in place. I leave this version as stands. Mandate may once again be accurate by the time you read this.
I stand by all other information about my business and guidelines for your continued health and safety.
SERVICES
What You Need
SERVICE
Committed to Quality
SERVICE
Satisfaction Guaranteed
OFFICE UPDATES
RISK PREVENTION IS MY TOP PRIORITY
expectations and precautions
for reopening
massage therapy businesses.
NO SUGAR COATING –
My practice remains closed for time being.
HERE'S WHY:
People are tired of sheltering, and many are excited at the prospect of opening up more soon.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
This opening up is premature, motivated by economic concerns (valid though they may be), and
ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY.
6-ft distancing isn't an option and interaction isn't brief – We're in a room together for an hour.
COVID -19 exposure behaves much like the HIV/AIDS epidemic: With individual interaction, we expose each other to all the environments and all the people we've each been with during the previous two weeks.
When I return to work, I will do so with the assurance that:
I am not putting any of you at risk.
I am not bringing the virus home to my family.
My plan is to return when safety permits, which includes the development of treatment for those contracting the virus.
(Separate issue from development of vaccine for prevention, yet further on the horizon).
Mandates prohibiting the practice of Massage Therapy are lifted and some of you may consider other options while waiting for me to reopen – no hard feelings, I assure you.
I want you to be safe, so
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
COVID-9 IS STILL AT LARGE.
Areas where you see the curve flattening doesn't mean the virus is disappearing – it means sheltering-in-place is working, reducing rate of infection. Rate of infection continues to rise or resume where precautions are loosely followed or removed.
KNOW THAT:
Counsel of the medical community is at odds with governmental regulatory decisions to relax mandates for sheltering in place.
KNOW THAT:
Yes, testing has become more available and more reliable.
BUT NO TREATMENT is yet developed for those who become infected, no estimate of when treatment will be discovered.
KNOW THAT:
Research for vaccine to PREVENT infection remains distant. When it comes, expect lag time between discovery and testing for FDA approval, between approval and production/distribution in quantities for everyone on the planet. At the outset of the pandemic, medical community projected a minimum 12-18 months to develop vaccine.
Today, projection for a vaccine remains 12-18 months.
"...sheltering-in-place, right?" >
PARTICULARS YOU NEED TO KNOW:
MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS
Selecting A Massage Therapist Ready to Re-open For Practice
1. CAREFULLY WEIGH YOUR NEED AGAINST THE RISKS.
2. BE ASSERTIVE WHEN INTERVIEWING MASSAGE THERAPISTS.
Learn latest guidelines for responsible practice of Massage Therapy
to reduce COVID-19 risks as much as possible.
FEDERATION OF STATE MASSAGE THERAPY BOARDS
(FSMTB)
https://www.fsmtb.org/media/2319/fsmtb20200519guidelinesforpracticecovid-19.pdf
PRECAUTIONS OUTLINED BY FSMTB ARE JUSTIFIABLY EXHAUSTIVE.
Massage office protocols should resemble those of medical facilities. State of California mandates Massage Therapists to conform to new standard for hair salons. FSMTB guidelines are far more rigorous.
MY FIRST QUESTION DURING PHONE INTERVIEWS WOULD BE:
"Are your office protocols compliant with FSMTB guidelines?
"If not familiar with this board, which professional Massage Therapy organization
guidelines do you apply for appropriate COVID-19 safety protocols?"
Among reasonable protocols to expect from therapists abiding by FSMTB-equivalent guidelines:
Sanitization of all surfaces touched by clients, between each and every client.
Change of disposable or washable outer garments (like hospital scrubs) between each and every client.
Change of disposable or washable mask between each and every client.
Re-sanitization of hands or changing gloves if touching anything other than client, table or sanitized linens during the course of the session. This includes, readjusting face mask, protective goggles, bra straps, hair, what have you.
Hair tied or held back so as to not brush client during session.
Picky? You bet! Dealing with contamination, ALL details must be observed, or ALL other precautions cancel out.
During your interview, listen for questions and concerns the massage therapist should address on her/his side of the screening process. She/he should repeat this intake questionnaire for each and every appointment. It's reasonable for you to request this same information of the massage therapist.
PARTING SENTIMENTS :
CLOSING ON A HAPPIER NOTE ...
Remote Reiki Sessions are meeting and exceeding expectations for clients as well as for myself.
I'd love to hear from you--
New hobbies? Creative work-arounds? Tough breaks?
Even a quick, "Hey there!" with an expressive emoji.
I miss you!
