Last Monday, May 4, 2020 Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the Statewide pause would END on May 15, 2020 and businesses would reopen under strict guidelines, in 4 phases and by Region.
Momma Moon Massage is in the Finger Lakes Region (despite the fact that most Rochestarians will tell you, we live in Western New York). As of Monday, May 4, 2020 the Finger Lakes Region needed 262 Contact Tracers and 30 test kits for every 1000 residents. At this mornings Press Announcement. Governor Cuomo declared 3 Regions prepared to re-open under the four phase reopening plan. For more information on the phases and the requirements to remain open visit: https://www.governor.ny.gov/new-york-forward/regional-guidelines-re-opening-new-york#priority-industries-for-re-opening
Phase 1 of the reopening is Manufacturing/Wholesale (that which was shut down as non-essential), retail (curbside pick up ONLY), and construction. Phase 2 will be no less than 14 days after Phase 1. There are guidelines for # of new cases, # of deaths from Covid, # of available hospital beds and available test kits. If we un-check any of those boxes we return to PAUSE until the boxes are once again checked.
Phase 2 includes: professional services, insurance and finance, real estate, retail and administrative support. Licensed Massage Therapists in New York State are under the Office of Professions. We fall under professional services (except those working in Spas, Resorts and Franchises) and are allowed by law to reopen when Phase 2 begins. I am throwing no shade at LMTs who work for Spas, Resorts or Chains, but those industries fall under Phase 3 and Phase 4.
This morning (May 11, 2020) my Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claim (filed 3/27/20) was approved. I received a random $600 PUC payment last week before my claim was listed as approved. I have no idea when I can expect my back payments (8 weeks) or when I will start getting regular weekly payments going forward.
I wish economics did not play a role in ANY business reopening or in ANY individual returning to work. I wish that everyone TRULY had the choice to stay home and see what happens for a few weeks, or (if they wanted to), to return to work. As it stands Momma Moon Massage will NOT need to reopen until July 1, 2020.
In my honest opinion reopening the economy before we are ready is MORE dangerous to the economy, than leaving it closed. We just NOW have seemed to catch up with Unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Claims. Businesses are just starting to see SBA, EDIL and PPP loans coming in. We are finally poised to be in a position for ALL of NYS Residents to wait and see in a comfortable space.
There are concerns that Massage cannot be safely performed with all the HYPE about asymptomatic carriers out there. Every virus has asymptomatic carriers, but we won't actually know the numbers of asymptomatic carriers until we have an antibody test, and we REDO ALL of our previous Tracing as we were ONLY looking for connections to China, when ALL of our STRAINS came out of EUROPE (Italy and MORE). We also will not have accurate trace information as long as people fear being honest about their interactions with other people.
Assuming this is like Typhoid, and we have asymptomatic individuals rapidly and widely spreading the disease. There is NO EVIDENCE showing that MASSAGE spreads COVID. This means that touching a persons, back, legs, arms and neck should have NO likelihood of transmitting COVID from an asymptomatic person to the therapist. The concern becomes the droplets landing on surfaces and the NEXT client(s) coming into contact with that same surface, touching it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.
The massage therapist CAN ABSOLUTELY wear a high quality mask (not just any face covering) and thereby reduce the likelihood that the therapist as an asymptomatic carrier will spread COVID. I do not believe it is feasible for the client to be wearing a face mask (especially while face down) and adequately breath for a 60, 90 or 120 minute session. The therapist can absolutely thoroughly clean between clients, have only 1 client on the premises at any time, and disinfect the space to prevent the spread of COVID. But what happens if they MISS just one little surface?
If we look at a 30 minute treatment model (i.e. just your aching shoulder, or your neck or your sciatic issue) with the client remaining fully clothed, and both parties wearing a mask:
For MY business model this would mean seeing 4 clients 5 days a week for 30 minute appointments to meet my minimum personal and business survival needs. That means in a two week time from exposure to illness a minimum of 40 people potentially exposed in MY OFFICE. Each of those 40 people have then potentially exposed ALL of the people they have come into contact with and we once again see our numbers rise.
Assuming there is NO GREATER exposure for a 60 minute session, then my business model becomes: 2 people per day, 5 days a week. This yields 20 potential direct exposure cases in my office, plus all the people they have contact with.
Using the 90 minute model: 1.25 people per day, 5 days a week, yielding 14 people exposed, plus all the people they have contact with.
Using the 120 minute model: 1 person per day, 5 days a week, yielding a minimum exposure to 10 people and the people they have contact with.
It is for these reasons and my own desire to not expose my immune compromised children, Mother and Business Partner, that Momma Moon Massage will remain CLOSED until at least July 1, 2020 and if I can stretch it, until September 1, 2020 when Momma Moon will reopen with a whole new identity.
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This is my personal decision, based on my financial ability to remain closed, even when the economy reopens. Please do not use my decision as a barometer for other businesses or massage therapists. We are all walking our own paths.
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