COVID-19 Safety

We have worked hard to implement the most comprehensive evidence-based set of changes and policies to minimize risks during the pandemic, and we have paid careful attention to official recommendations and guidelines for healthcare settings to make appropriate updates to our policies as needed. Since we first re-opened in September 2020 following the start of the pandemic, we have always taken a thoughtful and cautious approach in making any changes to our COVID policies, often exceeding the formally recommended safety guidelines, and we are happy to introduce a new set of changes at Red Moon as of March 2023.

Updated Policies

Masks now Optional for Clients and Staff 

Beginning Sunday March 19, 2023 face masks will be optional for clients and staff. Should you prefer that your practitioner wear a mask while they work with you, we are more than happy to oblige (simply note this preference at the time of booking online or over the phone).

Given that our setting involves very limited contact between clients, we feel that at this point in time, those individuals who wish to take a greater degree of caution for themselves by wearing a mask and requesting their practioner wear a mask, can maintain virtually the same level of safety as when masks were required, while still allowing for those who are comfortable making the personal choice to not wear a mask.

Requesting a Verified Vaccinated Practitioner 

While virtually all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19, because there is a possibility of a medical or other legally mandated exemption, if you would like to request a vaccinated or boosted therapist, please call the front desk to request this at the time of booking. Most of our staff have voluntarily signed disclosures allowing our front desk to share their vaccination status, which has been verified by our clinical director.

Reschedule if you are Sick or Exposed to COVID 

We have a strict policy against any staff or clients entering our center if they are experiencing symptoms of any infectious illness or recently exposed to COVID. We offer limited-time make-up sessions for anyone who has to cancel with less than 24 hours notice due to illness or COVID exposure (see our cancellation policy for details)

If you develop symptoms of any infectious illness including COVID (such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, diarrhea, etc.), please contact the front desk as soon as possible to reschedule and wait until symptoms are resolved to come in.

If you are exposed to COVID within 5 days before your appointment, please contact the front desk as soon as possible to reschedule and wait until 5 days has passed since your last exposure and you have remained symptom-free and received a negative COVID test to come in (taken 3-5 after exposure, either one PCR or two rapids taken 24 hours apart).

If you are recovering from COVID, please wait at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms to come in for an appointment, and ensure you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and that symptoms are improving or resolved. It is only acceptable to return after 5 days with two negative rapid tests taken 24 hours apart on days 5 and 6 or later, and fever-free for over 24 hours with symptoms resolved (and then you must remain masked unless 10 days have passed since symptom onset).

Our COVID Safety Standards

We continue to maintain the highest standards of ventilation, air purification, disinfection and cleanliness in our center and we are proud that our protocols have led to almost no COVID transmissions in our center to date. As of March 2023, with close tracking by our clinical director, we have identified one transmission out of more than 13,000 appointments since we re-opened in September 2020.

• 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. Based on testing CO2 levels in the treatment rooms just before and immediately following appointments we have found CO2 levels to consistently remain below 550 PPM, which demonstrates adequeate ventilation levels are being maintained even during the 60-90 minute treatment times. (For reference, experts believe that anything under 800 PPM is considered a well-ventilated indoor space and anything under 600 PPM is considered a very well-ventilated indoor space. Over 1000 is considered an alarm range for poorly ventilated indoor air and 400 is typical of outdoor air, not typically acheiveable indoors).
• Thorough Disinfecting: Our treatment rooms are thoroughly disinfected using a non-toxic EPA registered disinfection solution between each appointment. In addition to the treatment rooms, the reception area and bathrooms are cleaned and disinfected multiple times per day. 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, and touchless hand sanitizers through the facility. 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!). This includes paid time off for staff to receive and recover from vaccinations.