COVID-19 Update: Clinic Temporarily Closing

Jennifer Medeiros, RMT clinic is temporarily closing starting March 18th. I hope to reopen April 1st. I’ll be notifying everyone with appointments via email and/or phone; online booking will not be available at this time. I will be taking Emergency appointments only by phone during this period.

In light of the developing situation with COVID-19, closing seems to be the best thing I can do for our community, my clients, and myself. I will re-evaluate the situation as we near the 30th and see if it is actually a good time to reopen.

Note that no new guidance has come from professional massage organizations, or the PHAC about the safety of massage in light of COVID-19. Even though we use the same universal precautions used in medical offices, and there’s only a few people in the massage clinic per day, massage is by nature hands-on, in close proximity with a long duration of contact. I’m taking this as a personal decision, based on my own assessment of risk and my tolerance for it. I currently have no symptoms and neither have any of my clients.

Massage Therapy during COVID-19

In recent weeks, public health authorities have been taking measures to contain an outbreak of a new respiratory illness known as COVID-19. As a Massage Therapy facility, we are working diligently to ensure that our clinic remains a safe and healthy place for you to visit. We are asking that everyone please abide by the recommendations being set out by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) – Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak updates, symptoms, prevention, travel, preparation – Canada.ca to ensure that the virus is not spread. Currently, our clinic is continuing normal operations. We are also applying daily disinfection measures throughout the building beyond normal cleaning operations. 

Please know that your health, as well as the health of all our clients is our number one priority. I ask that anyone visiting the clinic take everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses such as:

  • Wash you hands often with soap and water or alchohol-based hand sanitizer
  • Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
  • Avoid contact with people who are sick
  • Stay home if you are sick
  • Routine cleaning of frequently used surfaces and objects

Although COVID-19 is a new and emerging respiratory virus, we know that most people with common human coronavirus illnesses will recover on their own. However, your risk of severe illness may be higher if you have a weakened immune system, in particular for older adults or people with chronic diseases (for example, diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease). For individuals at a higher risk, it is important to take actions to reduce the risk of getting sick by taking extra measures to put distance between yourself and other people, take everyday precautions including good hand hygiene and avoiding others who are sick, ensuring that medications are renewed and up-to-date, and having a plan in the event of an illness including regular check-ins with friends, family members, and their primary health care provider.

Many people worry that they will be charged for missing an appointment should they have to cancel due to illness during this time. Please know that your health, as well as the health of all of our clients is our number one priority and you will never be charged for a late cancel due to illness. Get the latest updates about the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Ontario. Information is updated every day – https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus. Stay healthy everyone!

COVID-19 Update

Due to the State of Emergency announced in Waterloo Region this past week and the mandate put forth by PHA and my governing college (CMTO), I will be temporarily keeping my Massage Therapy Clinic closed at this time. As I am unsure as to when it will be safe to reopen, I will be contacting clients on a weekly basis who have an upcoming appointment to cancel their treatments and will be placing them on a rebook list for when this outbreak has passed.