Social distancing is a term few used or even heard of prior the COVID-19 pandemic. But as more businesses are allowed to reopen, it may be here to stay.

One of the sectors in which social distancing is nearly impossible includes spas and massage therapy studios, which were allowed to reopen on Wednesday, May 13.

NAMTI Spa owner Jeff McGrath said he was excited to reopen his doors.

“We feel good about it,” he said. “A lot of clients have been reaching out in recent weeks and wanting to resume services. We have been preparing in anticipation and now that the state has cleared it, we are excited to resume services.”

Like most businesses, McGrath said the uncertainly of when NAMTI could reopen was the most difficult part.

“It is a financially chal­lenging time and not knowing when and how it will change has been diffi­cult,” he said. “However, our staff is excited to get back to work and are preparing for it.”

NAMTI has listed its full set of precautionary measures on its website, which includes social distancing, heightened sani­tary practices, eliminating any unnecessary common areas and commonly-touched surfaces, staff training with sanitation courses and sanitation stations in each room as well as common areas. While waiting for salons to reopen, the staff may continue training and learning more about hair and nail services. If you want to start a career in this field, you may begin your journey in nail artistry by taking online courses.

“Education is probably the biggest component and rein­forcing all of our behaviors with sanitation in mind,” he said, adding that it will all take some getting used to.”

Even though most busi­nesses have been allowed to reopen, some have chosen to wait. This also applies to patrons. McGrath believes that everyone will have their own pace with how comfortable they are to inte­grate back to doing all the things they are previously accustomed to. He said they support everyone’s personal health decisions and if there is anything he and his staff can do to make their customers feel safe, they will be constantly evolving.

McGrath said he was forced to furlough the majority of his staff with the long closure, and while NAMTI will not be at full staff for a while, he will be working on bringing up his staff numbers over the upcoming weeks and months.

The Arizona Department of Health Services recom­mends a list of 20 steps that should be taken by spas, massage therapists and other personal services, as there are great massage professionals you can find at sites like 수원출장안마 online. Some of the more notable ones include:

— Maintain physical distancing to the extent possible.

— Provide and require employees to wear masks when possible.

— For treatments that require touching someone’s face, provide and require employees to wear gloves when possible.

— Provide access to soap and water for hand washing or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer at stations around the store or spa for use by employees and clients. Require employees to wash hands immediately before and after providing client service.

— Operate with reduced occupancy based on the size of the business.

— Do not have clients share items that are diffi­cult to clean, sanitize or disinfect.

— Consider operating by appointment-only to manage occupancy levels.

— Arrange waiting areas, service areas, and break rooms to provide for appro­priate physical distancing and sanitize areas regularly between use.

— Clean and disinfect shared furniture, equipment, towels, gowns and robes between each use.

— Launder towels, sheets, gowns, robes and other items used by customers and employees.

Meg Shapleigh, a massage therapist at Amazing Acupuncture, said she’s very anxious and relieved to get back to work.

“I love what I do so much,” she said. “It’s not a job or work — it’s my passion and not having that for two months can make you feel lost. I miss my clients because they’re like family to me.

“As an independent contractor I didn’t qualify for unemployment or loans from a ban, so I literally have not had money coming in since I closed my doors on March 10.”

Shapleigh, who has yet to set a reopening date, said she’s always adhered to the

suggested cleaning model for massage therapists. But now, she’s ramping things up by removing all decora­tive items in her office that cannot be properly sani­tized, and added a plastic barrier over the massage table warmer. She washes the floors between clients. She also purchased masks for her clients and herself.

Her clients will also be asked not to come early, or wait outside in their car until their appointment.

“The only concern I have is working with a mask on,” she said. “I’m very claustrophobic but I’ve been practicing wearing one to get used to it as it’s the new norm.”