Here’s how we can protect each other:
When you book and before you arrive
Please do not schedule or keep an appointment (cancellation fees waived) if you answer Yes to any of the following questions or if you are not comfortable with the low but possible risk of respiratory or other infections during massage therapy:
- Did you travel outside of Canada in the past 14 days?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 or had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 without wearing appropriate protective equipment?
Does you have any of the following symptoms?
- Fever and/or chills
- New onset of cough or worsening chronic cough
- Shortness of breath
- Decrease or loss of sense of taste or smell
- Unexplained headache
- If adult > 18: unexplained fatigue/malaise/muscle aches (myalgias)
- If child < 18: nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain
Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days or been told you should be isolating? Are you waiting for test results?
Have you had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 without wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment?
Scheduling an appointment indicates your commitment to follow all hygiene protocols listed below and to participate in some form of contact tracing should either of us test positive or develop symptoms of Covid-19 (easiest would be for you to have the Canadian national Covid Alert application installed and bluetooth activated on your smartphone if you have one).
Before you arrive
- I will have disinfected all high-touch and horizontal surfaces including doorknobs, all massage related equipment, bathroom faucet and toilet handle, walls used for rehabilitative movement.
- Please cancel without fees if your health status or risk tolerance changes, especially regarding symptoms listed above
When you arrive
- If you arrive early, please wait on my front porch, in your car, or in nearby Dufferin Mall or Dufferin Grove Park. Or contact me if weather is bad and I will make sure you have a spot to wait inside.
- Wear a well-fitting face mask or facial covering of some kind (I will be wearing a surgical mask and can provide for those who need one; face-down options include pillow case over face cradle, or your mask on with the regular facial opening). I’m obliged to ask clients to wear a mask when facing up or for massage when facing away, sitting, standing, and to the washroom.
- Complete alcohol-based hand rub at the door upon arrival or proceed directly to the washroom for washing with running water.
- Washroom access is through the kitchen, ideally kept brief, and with a mask on – I will assist with opening the sliding door for contactless exit despite disinfecting all commonly touched and horizontal surfaces before and after your visit.
- request free use of the mini trampoline, foam roller, gym mat, and self massage tools as time permits
Additional Precautions
These are measures I take in addition to mandates from the Ministry of Health and the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario:
Distancing
My posted availability allows you exclusive washroom access (more times available by request with a few minutes to ensure washroom is ready for you). I allow 30 minutes between appointments for air exchange, cleaning, and distancing to ensure you have no spacial overlap with others. My treatment spaces and entrances are not open to the public, nor do I treat high numbers of people working part-time as I do. I can help you touch nothing unless absolutely necessary even though I clean everything you are likely to touch including walls I use to demonstrate restorative movement.
Protection
For our additional safety or by request, I may wear a facial shield in addition to a mask. Depending on the weather, windows can be open for additional ventilation; all doors are opened between treatments. The safest type of clothing to wear if you would like to reduce contamination risk when disrobing after your treatment at home (since I work over clothing) = tops that open in front (eg buttons) vs over-the-head with face contact. Or remove shirt over head from back to front. Place personal items on something that can be disinfected.
Disinfection
I disinfect all high-touch surfaces before and after every client including doorknobs, faucet, massage equipment, light switches.
Your patience, suggestions, and requests are appreciated during this transition into pandemic-resistant massage therapy. The following link leads to a PDF summary of how massage therapy in Ontario is reopening in consideration of Covid-19.
Client-Resource-Massage-Therapy-and-COVID-19
Risk Mitigation, Additional Notes
Covid-19 transmission risks appear higher when a) indoors, b) closer than 2 meters, c) prolonged periods, d) heavy breathing/loud talking without masks, e) touching face after things. We try to address each major risk for redundancy.
a) My larger indoor space gets fresh outside air directly. I can treat outside in any weather at Dufferin Grove Park. BYO yoga mat/blanket, dress in layers, and enjoy fresh air. I can even work over winter coats using my forearms and knees, plus neck access using my fists while you sit. Some camping chairs are great for massage.
b) A majority of the treatment can be facing away and facing down. Additionally, I can do a lot with my feet (with fresh socks!), which would keep us over 5′ apart; by request, and mostly for the legs and arms although anything is possible.
c) Shorter appointments can be effective, especially if you complete a health history online. In person could be as little as 15-20-30 minutes; some pretalk and restorative movement could be done via video or audio call by request.
d) Talking can be minimized by request.
e) Hand cleaning and surface cleaning eliminate these risks, which are already rather low transmission routes compared to airborne droplets.