Safe Inside Directory: Covid Safer Services

This month, a new directory called 'Safe Inside' launched - a self-certification scheme to help people find Covid-safe places to access healthcare and other services. It was great to be asked to the first business listed and to be tweeted about as an 'absolutely inspiring business'. 

Here's the entry for Holistyx - https://safeinside.co.uk/holistyx

This directory is looking for information on other businesses - particularly Healthcare related or essential services such as dentists, opticians, therapists, funeral directors. 

Do you know of any businesses who have measures in place such as HEPA filters and a masking policy? Or even just a window always open and workers who test if symptomatic and stay off work if testing positive? Tell them to get themselves listed!

Find out what safety measures there are at Holistyx against Covid and other infectious diseases commonly in circulation such as flu, colds, RSV and norovirus at: Infection Control Policies and Procedures. 

PS I have since discovered a Facebook group called CEV Safer Places UK for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to Covid to find venues which are mindful of infection control, outdoor attractions, or venues with outdoor eating.

Higher Mask Standard: FFP2

 

I have upgraded from the Type IIR surgical mask I was wearing previously, to a better fitting and higher filtration Cambridge Mask Company 'ventilator' or 'filtering face piece' (FFP) mask. This is also reusable for up to 340 hours, so avoids the plastic pollution involved in single use masking. 

The filter technology is designed by the British Ministry of Defence,  filtering out nearly 100% of all harmful air pollutants, gases, allergens, smog, and pollen; 99.7% of bacteria and 99.6% of all viruses - including Sars-Cov-2, the virus which causes Covid-19. 

The 'FFP2' standard is equivalent to the N95 standard used in the USA. 

As this is much better protection for me from aerosol transmission, particularly in combination with clients wearing face coverings as well, I am now able to spend more time on close up work around the neck and shoulders.   

Available Cambridge Mask Company

Phase 4 - What Covid-19 Measures have Changed? What Is Still in Place?

England moved into Phase 4 on 19th July. 

Thank you to all my clients over the last few weeks who I have consulted on possible changes. 😀

I am aware that the vaccination programme has greatly weakened the link between infection and hospitalisation and death and that the government has reduced requirements on that basis. However I am also aware that:
- only 52% of the population is vaccinated
- we have the highest rate of infection in the world
- I have Clinically Vulnerable and Extremely Clinically Vulnerable clients that are very concerned for their risk
- there is no evidence that vaccination reduces the risk of disability from Long Covid

Guidance from the government is here. Further guidance support from my Professional Association, the APNT is on Facebook here and on their website here. 

"While England moves to step 4 of Covid-19 restrictions from 19 July that removes the mandatory wearing of face-coverings and social distancing, therapists are reminded that, as they work in a close contact setting, there is a higher risk of viral transmission. Therefore, the APNT does recommend the continued wearing of face-coverings for all clients and therapists and asks that you seriously consider the continued use of type II masks and eye protection as the alternative to a face-covering, particularly when treating the high-risk zone." - APNT. 

Read on for details of what has changed and what has remained unchanged in my infection control measures. 

Re-Opening after Lockdown 2.0 and Availability, Including Christmas and New Year

I am available for appointments from Wednesday the 2nd of December. Those on my mailing list have received information on how to book and a link to my online booking service. If you are not on my mailing list, contact me and I will email this to you.

Despite having reduced our infection levels to half the National average, Lancaster District will be, with the rest of Lancashire, going back into Tier 3 - the highest Tier of restrictions. However Close Contact Services / Personal Care - which Holistic Therapies are classed as - will be permitted in all Tiers in all areas of the UK, so I will be able to open for all treatments, as previously adapted to be compliant with Government and Industry Covid-19 Guidance and my Risk Assessment.

I hope you will feel confident to come for a treatment if you need one in December, and that it will still be a relaxed and enjoyable experience. Here's some links which go through the changes that are in place to keep you and I safe:

Summary of Holistyx Covid-19 Infection Control Measures
Summary of Holistyx Safety Procedures for Clients

If you are thinking of buying a gift voucher, please see Holistyx Gift Vouchers 

Covid-19 Measures Reassuring, Aromatherapy Massage Relaxing

Re-opening

Holistyx will shortly be contacting *only* those clients whose appointments were cancelled in March, April, and May due to the Pandemic, offering them appointments through a new online booking system, and slowly starting to work again with many new safety measures and procedures in place.

When those clients have had some time to get first priority for appointments, booking will then become available for all former clients who had requested appointments during closure, then all that have been previously to Holistyx.

There is no estimate at present of when appointments will be available to new clients.

Closed Until Further Notice #stayhomesavelives

The sharper rise in coronavirus / Covid-19 cases and death rate than the government and its advisors expected; the bringing in of further measures, ie the closure of schools; and the advice of a trusted friend and colleague who used to work in Public Health, brought me to the point this week where I could no longer in good conscience stay open and make any contribution at this crucial time to people being in contact with others more than absolutely necessary. 

No matter how good my hygiene measures, I cannot do my therapies from the 2 metre / 6 1/2 foot distance that avoids this extremely infectious virus being passed on - and we now know it is at its most infectious before people develop symptoms and some people do not develop any symptoms at all. 

I am sure you have been following this on the news and seeing the governments announcements, but just to reiterate - please restrict physical contact with others as much as you can, keep washing your hands, and avoiding touching your face, in order to slow down the spread of this disease, which has crippled the capacity of health services in Italy and Spain. The slower it spreads, the less people will die due to lack of ventilators for post-viral pneumonia. 

Find ways to look after your physical and mental health, to deal with stress and anxiety and keep your immune system strong. I am sorry my services won't be available to support you in that. As difficult as it is, I feel this is the best thing I can do for the health and safety of my clients, our whole community, and all the people our community is connected to all over the world.

PS On Friday 20th March, 2 days after my decision to close on Wednesday 18th March,  the government asked all 'spas, wellbeing centres and massage parlours' to close. Not the clearest wording but my professional association the FHT confirmed that meant all of us, sports, complementary and beauty therapists.