05/16/2020
May 16, 2020
Hello to you,
Due to COVID, in March, the ABMP (my professional organization) and Gov. Polis requested that we cease working. That was a correct decision.
What a time this is. Seems surreal. I keep thinking I will wake up and “this pandemic” will all be “over” or “back to normal”. I have been thinking a lot aside from the emotional and physical need for a Massage for the past 3 months, also about “The Power of Touch” and why it is so important and essential to our lives, wellbeing and mental health. With Social distancing, we are denied our basic needs…especially the elderly and those that live alone. I suggest, if I may, that you give yourself a 20 second hug several times a day!
I spend my days, LEARNING ALL I CAN…
AND gathering data, research/watching Tri County Health Dashboards, (watching case #’s, hospitalization #’s and other statistics), updates from OSHA guidelines, updates from ABMP (My professional organization), watching updates from DORA (Dept of Regulatory Agencies), watching any format of new COVID/Medical information/releases as they are updated, and of course CDPHE updates, COVID updated sources, Infectious disease Medical Podcasts, 2-3 daily brainstorming sessions with other colleagues/therapists, Taking part in Infectious Disease Medical/Massage Therapy group chats/Webinars, and industry “chats” hosted by renowned MT Professionals. Data from Johns Hopkins University/other Medical papers, panels of Medical Doctor Panel webinars on COVID, participate in ongoing colleague zoom meetings, any/all professional Massage Therapy group discussions to reassess the Future of our profession and risk prevention associated with COVID and try to put all the puzzle pieces together about the safe re-opening of my business. I have met online with colleagues from all over the U.S. This, along with many hours of thought/discernment to navigate all of this, and to do my very best to “DO no harm” and keep each of us safe.
The Governor has said “ok, Nail Salons, Tattoo parlors and Massage Parlors … can reopen”. “Uh, HUH? How do I do that? And really, we shouldn’t be lumped in together. Each of us have very different guidelines to comply with. There is a complex problem here, in order to comply with DORA, ABMP, CDHPE safety guidelines/requirements, we need PPE. Proper PPE.
Things have drastically changed for our profession, and even with 150+ total hours or so searching online, it is difficult to find proper, safety PPE products needed to meet those necessary guidelines to implement them into my practice. Understandably, because the Health care teams/First responders have received all the Medical grade N95 8210 Plus PPE. Each of us have to stay safe too. I have an ER Medical Director in our family and I have discussed this at length with him. My Doctor, the Administrator of our Colleague group, and the Medical Director have all said “Massage Therapists need to have nothing short of an N95 mask”, because we are in such close proximity with clients for a long period of time.
So, for now, I made a decision to remain closed for now, to watch for the spikes in cases, (likely to happen, with relaxed Governors orders) and to continue to monitor everything I am following and continue the conversations with all of my sources and reassess the risks the first part of June 2020.
In the meantime, be safe, stay well, I am keeping you and your families in my thoughts and prayers and if you want to do a live chat/zoom call and I can help you or suggest things for sore neck muscles/or stress or pain. Please reach out to me. I am here.
Until then, BREATHE, keep taking a lot of deep breaths, get out for walks enjoy our Spring, Nature is very healing.
