😷 June Updates😷

First of all:
I miss you guys! Seriously. It feels like I've been away from my office for YEARS at this point.

I wanted to check in and give another update, so that everyone knew what was going on. The short answer is that not much has changed, at least on the surface. I am still closed for the time being, with no certain date for reopening. As we have received no state or federal guidance on reopening, I have been doing a ridiculous amount of research as to what other states (and some other countries) are doing to keep their massage therapists and clients safe. I'm also working on ordering supplies necessary for reopening. Many are still backordered though, so that part has been a bit of a waiting game.

I'm still not finding much information on the rate of occurance on the asymptomatic covid patients developing the potentially life threatening blood clots.There is also a serious lack of information available on the risk of working on someone post-covid due to the clotting disorders many are presenting with during/after the illness itself. There is also not much information yet about how long after recovery is safe to get anything more than a very gentle massage due to the possibility of residual blood clots.There is more information than there was last month, but still not very much. I haven't stoppped looking for it though.

I have been shocked and horrified by what I am seeing in local massage therapist groups recently. I understand that money is non-existent for 99% of those of us that haven't returned to work. I get it. I closed 3/13/20. Waited 5 weeks to even be able to apply for unemployment. I'm STILL waiting to hear whether I qualify and when I may expect to receive any payments. Aaaaaand home and office bills still need to be paid, whether that unemployment check is coming in for us or not. So, yeah... I understand why many LMTs have decided to return to work- if they stopped at all. My concerns really center on how many of them are doing absolutely nothing differently. No masks. No enhanced screening. No increased sanitation. Quick turnovers between clients to see as many as possible per day. Using essential oils only to disinfect surfaces. (That's a really good one. When I pointed out that essential oils marketed by Young Living or anyone else aren't on the EPA approved list of disinfectants, I was told that studies prove they work just as well. When I asked what studies she was referring to, I was pointed to a story from a small tv news story ABOUT A 4TH GRADE SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT ON HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS. Yup. That was the "study" that she cited as her reference.) I've seen rationalizations about how they bought a magical air purifier from amazon that claims it even purifies door knobs in the room, so they don't have to do anything differently. Or that they think COVID isn't any worse than the annual flu. Or that they think the whole thing is a liberal hoax created to make the president look bad. It seems like they are in the minority, but I have seen it enough times to be concerned for the safety of their clients.

I'm putting this out there because I know a few people have either already gone to find a temporary LMT to work on them or are about to. If you decide you must get worked on right now, please, PLEASE ask a lot of questions about what they are doing to prevent the transmission of COVID 19 before setting your appointment. Please make sure that you aren't trading your sore neck/back/shoulder for coronavirus for yourself and your family.

**If anyone is interested, I have detailed step by step information on what the "perfect" cleaning/sanitizing/disinfection process between clients should look like. If you want to look it over, just send me an email and I'll get it right over to to you. It's a muli- part cleaning and disinfection protocol that covers the entire office, and even includes the therapist changing clothes (or at least wearing a long gown that can be changed) after every client. It's a lengthy process of 30-45min of work between appointments but, really, I don't think we can be too careful.

Also, I'm still sorting through what changes in the office are necessary and what are no longer applicable, now that some time has passed and more research has been done. For example, initially we were told that fans would mitigate risk. 3 months later, we learn that fans in treatment rooms may actually increase the risk & should be avoided. Sigh.

Then, on top of all that, Milwaukee is still considered to have a high case rate and Waukesha is rated moderately high, as of 2p today. New cases have been on the rise again daily since June 17th. The population groups being most affected right now are in the 20-49yr old age range, which encompasses many of my clients. These numbers are not conducive to reopening my practice just yet, in my opinion. What I am looking for is an overall lowering rate of infections, with cases steadily declining in the area. Here are a couple of graphs the WI Department of Health Services updated this afternoon with more specific information.

So, now everyone all knows the fun sorts of things I'm reading about when I'm not outside rage-gardening. Honestly, I think the only one in my house TRULY enjoying us all taking this so seriously and staying home as much as possible is Chubley. He is living his best life right now, for sure. Everyone else here is pretty well over it and wishing we could return to "normal' sooner rather than later. Hopefully this doesn't drag on too much longer. Time will tell, I guess.

I hope everyone is doing ok. I miss you & cannot wait to see you again! Feel free to check in anytime if you have questions or even if you just want to say hi.

Be safe out there,
Amy