COVID-19 Safety

• Summary of Changes
• Client Policies
• Client & Staff Screenings

While the comfort, healing, and relaxation of our clients have always been our top priority at Red Moon Wellness, your safety, as well as that of our staff and the greater community, will always come first. We have worked hard to not only implement the most comprehensive evidence-based set of changes and policies to minimize risks during the pandemic, but we have also meticulously thought through how to maintain the best client experience possible during our "new normal". We understand some things will feel different in your overall experience, but the heart of what we do - highly skilled therapeutic massage in a beautiful environment - will remain unchanged.

In order to minimize risk of COVID-19 transmission, we are in full compliance with NY State reopening requirements for Phase 3 Industries, NYC regulations, and CDC and OSHA guidance for disinfection. Accordingly, we have implemented a variety of new policies that pertain to both clients and staff as well as extensive disinfecting procedures. Read on for a summary of changes, details on client policies, as well as information on our client & staff health screenings.

Summary of Changes

UPDATE Nov 2020: Medical Massage is an Essential Health Care Service in NY State and new data indicates that massage seems to be a low risk activity when performed with proper precuations. Details on our latest blog post.

Red Moon is taking the highest level precautions:

• Ventilation & Air Quality: We have gone above and beyond state mandated changes with a special focus on ventilation and air quality including medical grade HEPA filters and fresh air ventilation in every room including our reception area. Based on the square footage of each room air purifiers will operate at an air change rate of 12-15 times per hour (far exceeding the recommended air change rates of at least 6-8 times per hour). The true HEPA filters trap 99.97% of particles at .3 microns and 95% of particles at .1 microns. We also installed vent fans into each room to exhaust air out during appointments and circulate air in between appointments. Every room including our bathroom has windows that can remain open to ventilate as needed. We have also invested in a CO2 meter to monitor whether sufficient fresh air levels are being maintained with these ventilation protocols. 
• Universal Mask Wearing: All staff and clients will be required to wear appropriate masks or face coverings at all times inside Red Moon. There will be no expceptions to this policy. 
• COVID-19 Health Screenings & Temp Checks: All of our staff will be subject to daily health screenings including temperature checks before coming into work. Clients will also be subject to health screenings and temperature checks with our touchless infrared forehead thermometer. Our full set of screening questions can be found below.
• Reduced Capcity & Physical Distancing: We will be leaving 30 minutes between each appointment and have stagggered the schedule so that clients will not overlap in our reception area. The treatment room you will receive your massage in will have been ventilated for a minimum of 30 minutes before your appointment.
• PPE: during your massage treatment all therapists will be wearing a face mask, face shield, and a fresh zip-up scrub jacket over their clothes. Masks and scrub tops will be new for every appointment and face shields will be disinfected between each appointment. LMTs are also required to change out of their street clothes upon arrival and into a pair of clean work clothes, including dedicated indoor-only shoes.
• Thorough Disinfecting: The treatment room will be thoroughly disinfected using a non-toxic EPA registered disinfection solution between each appointment. In addition to the treatment rooms, the reception area will be disinfected between each client, and the bathroom will be disinfected between every use. We are using a safe and effective commercial disinfectant called Bioesque that is on EPA list N for use in killing SARS-CoV-2 in just 4 minutes. The active ingredient is thymol, which is derived from the herb thyme. It is incredibly safe and registered with EPA for this use.
• Touchless upgrades: we have installed touchless faucets in the bathroom and staff hand washing station, touchless soap dispensers, touchless hand sanitizers through the facility, as well as touchless payment options (including a touchless option for cash gratuities). We have also gone completely paperless with an electronic health records software for clinical note taking by staff and online intake forms for clients.
• Staff Training & Education: our clinical and front desk staff have all been trained in proper disinfecting procedures based on CDC guidelines. In addition, we have required our therapists to go through continuing education in the clinical understanding of complications that can arise for clients who may have recovered from COVID-19 and any and all precautions and contraindications as they relate to safety in receiving massage therapy (including special cautions for prenatal clients who may have recovered from COVID-19).
• Paid sick leave for staff to discourage anyone from coming to work while ill (and because its the ethical thing to do!).

Client Policies

When booking an appointment all clients are required to read and agree to the following policies:

• No Walk-ins: To ensure adequate pre-screening no walk-ins will be accepted. Same day appointments must be booked over the phone to ensure screening occurs in time and online booking is available for appointments booked at least 48 hours in advance. 
• Please arrive solo: I understand that no one other than the scheduled client will be permitted into the studio. 
• Waiting area closed: I understand the waiting area will be closed for seating and that the front desk will be contact me by call or text when my therapist is ready for me to come in for my appointment. I understand that in order to begin my appointment on time, I should arrive 10 minutes early and ring the bell in the vestibule upon arrival. If we aren't ready to welcome you in right away we do have a new bench outside.
• Temp checks / Health screening: I agree to have my health screened at the door by front desk staff via a few simple questions and a temperature check taken with a contactless thermometer before entering the studio. If your temperature is above 99.3 degrees Fahrenheit you will be offered 3 minutes to sit down and cool off on the bench in our entryway and then have your temperature re-checked. If it is still not at or below 99.3 degrees at this time, you will be kindly asked to reschedule your appointment. In this case, you will be given a make-up session for the charge already made to your credit card for the scheduled appointment, in accordance with our late cancel policy due to illness.
• No service of tea or snacks: I understand that Red Moon has eliminated service of tea and shared snacks. We do have individually wrapped organic fair trade dark chocolate to offer you after your session. We recommend you bring your own water bottle in case you are thirsty after your appointment but if you do not have one our staff are happy to serve you filtered water in a clean glass (we will no longer have self-serve water).
• Masks required: I understand I will be required to wear a clean mask or other adequate face covering that fully covers my nose and mouth at all times while in the studio including at all times during the treatment on the table. Poorly fitted masks, vented masks, bandanas, and neck fleeces/gaitors are not acceptable face coverings. We suggest wearing mask that uses ear loops since anything that wraps around the head or neck will make it more difficult to massage directly on those areas and may feel uncomfortable in the face cradle. I understand if I arrive with an insufficient face covering (or no covering at all), that I will be offered a clean disposable mask to wear during my time in the studio and that I will not be admitted without an acceptable face covering. If you should feel uncomfortable face down on the massage table in the mask you will have the option to utilize the sidelying position, but you will not be permitted to remove the mask at any time during the appointment. Because we specialize in prenatal massage, all of our therapists are highly skilled at offering effective sidelying massage.
• Shoes off in studio: I understand I will be required to remove my shoes before entering the studio. If you are not wearing socks you will be provided with a complimentary pair of freshly laundered slippers, but you will not be permitted to enter barefoot (you can be barefoot on the table, just not walking around). 
• Hand hygiene: I agree to sanitize and/or wash my hands upon entering the studio and immediately before and after my treatment. We have many touchless sanitizing stations available.
• Physical distancing required: I agree to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between myself and anyone else present in the clinic at all times, except while receiving my treatment. Please note we have a 30 minute turnover between appointments and staggered start times so you should not be passing other clients in the reception area.
• Limit talking during treatment: I understand that talking and conversations during massage therapy treatments will be limited to that which is necessary to communicate about the massage. Don't hesitate to speak up about anything directly related to treatment, such as if you are cold, would like more or less pressure, or are uncomfortable in any way - just please limit casual conversations to minimize the amount of aerosols released into the environment.
• Gloves: I understand my therapist will not wear gloves during the massage treatment unless I request they do so. NY State Phase 3 re-opening guidelines do not require the use of gloves for massage therapy and evidence does not suggest any increased protection with glove wearing as long as thorough hand washing takes place. 
• Services/Treatments we are not performing: I understand that many services will be temporarily unavailable due to the pandemic including: face massage, jaw massage/intra-oral TMJ massage, sinus relief steam treatment, cupping therapy, hot stone massage, couples massage (in the same room), the option to bring your newborn to postpartum massage, infant massage instruction (online only), and eye pillows. Please contact us to discuss alternatives should you desire any of these treatments.
• Room temperature control: I understand that my therapist will do their best to keep the room a comfortable temperature, however windows will remain open for ventilation even while air conditioning or heat is on. Although a top priority at Red Moon is for you to have the best experience possible, when given the choice between safety and comfort, we will always choose the safety of our clients and staff first. Should you feel cold, a freshly laundered blanket will be available upon request, but the table heater will be on to keep you warm otherwise.
• Bathroom use: I understand the bathroom will be disinfected by staff between every use and the bathroom window will remain open for ventilation. I agree not to remove my mask in the bathroom and I agree to close the toilet seat cover before flushing as this minimizes the potential for aerosolization of viral particles into the bathroom. 
• Contactless checkout: I agree to stand at least 6 feet from the reception desk while checking out. You will have the option for the front desk to charge your card on file in order to have a contactless payment. Should you need to use another method of payment (such as running your credit card through our card reader, cash, or check), you will kindly be offered hand sanitizer before and after payment.
• Cash Gratuities: Should you wish to leave gratuity for your therapist, we will have a contactless system to graciously accept cash, but exact change is preferred to avoid cash exchange at the register. You will also have the alternative of using Venmo for gratuity in lieu of cash. We are unable to accept gratuity via credit card.

Client & Staff Screenings

In addition to temp checks, all staff and clients will be required to sign the following health declaration before every time they enter the studio. 

By signing below, I attest that all of the following is true about me and everyone in my household in the past 14 days:

• I have NOT been in close contact* with someone with known or suspected COVID-19 (except for frontline medical professionals while wearing proper PPE)
• I am NOT currently awaiting test results for active COVID-19 infection (unless a routine test, not for symptoms or possible exposure to the virus)
• I have NOT tested positive for active COVID-19 infection
• I have NOT traveled to a region of the US or internationally that is a known "hot spot" for COVID-19
• I have NOT been in close contact with anyone who has traveled to a region of the US or internationally that is a known "hot spot" for COVID-19
• I have NOT been in any groups of people outside of my household where physical distancing and/or mask-wearing was not observed
• I have been wearing a mask at all times in indoor public places as well as outdoors where physical distancing is not possible
• I have NOT had any symptoms associated with COVID-19, including but not limited to:
  • temperature above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit
  • chills
  • new cough or worsening chronic cough
  • new loss of taste or smell
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • chest pain or abdominal pain
  • unexplained fatigue/malaise/muscle aches
  • diarrhea or vomiting
  • headache
  • sore throat
  • nasal/sinus congestion, runny or stuffy nose
  • worse than normal or unexplained allergy-like symptoms
  • pink eye / conjunctivitis

I understand I will need to attest to this health declaration again before every appointment at Red Moon Wellness while the COVID-19 pandemic continues. I understand that if anything changes related to my health or possible COVID-19 exposure between the time I attest to this and the time of my appointment that would render anything on this declaration form no longer true, I will contact Red Moon Wellness right away to reschedule. If you need to late cancel for this reason you will receive a make-up session so as to avoid a cancellation fee.

*"Close contact" is defined as closer than 6 feet distance for greater than 15 minutes time.