Read the Preamble to the policy here.

Policy is subject to change based on health advice, risk assessment and community transmission.

FACE MASKS/RESPIRATORS:

Clients MUST WEAR a well-fitted N95/P2/KN95/KF94 RESPIRATOR (mask).
• • If you don't bring an N95, we will provide a respirator FOR A SMALL FEE to cover costs.
• • Surgical masks and cloth masks are no longer accepted as evidence suggests these provide less protection from aerosol transmission.
• • A parent or guardian who attends an appointment with a minor under 18 years must also wear an N95 respirator and meet all additional Covid-19 screening requirements.
• • Minors under 12 years are not legally required to wear masks but if tolerated, an N95 respirator or surgical mask should be worn.
• • To be effective, face masks must completely cover your mouth and nose, with no gaps between your face and the mask. Press the metal strip across the top of your nose for a good seal.
• • You must wear your mask correctly at all times during massage, including when lying face down.
• • Do NOT wear masks with a vent or holes - you may breathe out virus if you have Covid-19.
• • Your therapist will wear a TGA approved N95 NIOSH medical grade respirator.
• • Businesses can still request face masks to be worn and Qld Health ask you to co-operate.
• • Respirators offer greater protection but try to do a fit check for the best possible seal.
• • Wash or sanitise your hands before and after touching your respirator/mask.
• • Do NOT touch the front of your respirator/mask as it may be contaminated with virus.
• • If you do touch your mask, wash or sanitise your hands immediately.
• • Hold mask by tapes or loops, tie/put straps around back of head or loops around your ears.
• • To improve the seal of masks/repirators, remove facial hair. For surgical masks, try using adhesive tape (eg Micropore) or "knot and tuck" technique (good for smaller faces).
• • Check instructions for surgical masks as they can differ but usually, the blue/ darker/ rough side is worn on the outside (fluid repellent layer) and the lighter/ white/ soft side is worn on the inside (absorbent layer).
• • Disposable masks are single use only. A new mask should be worn for each use.
• • Put your used mask/respirator in a sealed bag then dispose of it in a bin.

Return to Covid Screening

VENTILATION/CLEAN AIR:

Re-Balanced Bodies continues to apply our Covid-19 ventilation/clean air control measures:
• - CO2 monitoring throughout treatments
• - Aiming to keep CO2 levels below 600ppm (maximum recommendation is < 800ppm).
• - Improving natural ventilation by opening windows in the treatment room.
• - Using mechanical ventilation (air purifier with medical grade HEPA filter).
• - Appointments are spaced to allow ventilation of the treatment room between clients.
• - Re-Balanced Bodies is proudly endorsed by AMT as a "clean air clinic".
• - Covid-19 transmission occurs mostly indoors via inhaled infectious aerosols that linger in poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
• - It is estimated that Covid-19 transmission is almost 20 times higher indoors than outdoors.
• - OzSage provides advice on creating safer indoor workspaces to reduce Covid-19 transmission.

VACCINATION:

• You should wait 3 days after a Covid-19 vaccine before having a massage due to contraindications from potential side effects such as headache, pain, chills and fever.

• Health advice is to continue to have Covid-19 booster dose/s when you become eligible.

• Advice is to also have an Influenza Vaccine annually due to risks during the winter flu season and an increased risk of hospitalisation and death with Flurona (Covid-19 + Influenza co-infections).

If you have NOT had all Covid-19 dose/s when eligible or are unvaccinated you may be at increased risk of severe illness, hospitalisation and death. When assessing your own personal risk for remedial massage, you should consider this and all other high risk factors.

Jodie is fully vaccinated for Covid-19 (all doses/boosters as soon as eligible), Influenza (annually) and Shingles.

Return to Covid Screening

PREAMBLE:

Re-Balanced Bodies has developed a Covid-19 Face Mask, Ventilation & Vaccination Policy to ensure we continue to comply with our legal Duty of Care to provide a safe environment and minimise risks for everyone who enters our workplace.

This policy has been made with cautious consideration and research, and information has been obtained from multiple sources including Qld/Federal Governments, SafeWork Australia, Work Safe Qld, Australian/Qld Human Rights Commission, Qld/Federal Health Departments, International Health Authorities (eg WHO, CDC), Coronacast, Association of Massage Therapists and Covid-19 research papers.

Community transmission of Covid-19 is widespread. The most important Covid-19 risk mitigation controls include vaccination, ventilation, masks and physical distancing.

Due to the nature of remedial massage, we have very close physical contact for extended periods of time in a small indoor space, which may increase the risk of Covid-19 transmission. This makes other non-pharmaceutical risk mitigation controls measures (eg masks, ventilation) even more important.

Research indicates that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective at preventing infection, hospitalisation, and death. Even though people who are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 may still have breakthrough infections, research indicates that there is a faster decline in viral load, which may reduce the length of the infectious period. Research indicates that protection from Covid-19 vaccines wanes from about 3 months and booster dose/s provide increased protection. Research indicates that unvaccinated people may be at higher risk of transmitting and contracting Covid-19, severe illness, hospitalisation and death. Research is ongoing on the effectiveness of vaccines in relation to Omicron and it's subvariants. Covid-19 Booster vaccination rates in Australia are low and advice from health experts continues to stress that relying solely on vaccines to reduce the risk of Covid-19 is irresponsible and increases the risk of ongoing high rates of transmission, hospitalisation, Long Covid and death.

There is a much higher risk of re-infection from Omicron than previous variants, and additional subvariants also continue to emerge. Evidence suggests that risks of post-Covid health problems increase (double) with each Covid-19 re-infection. About 10% of people who have had Covid-19 develop Long Covid. People who had 'mild' cases of Covid-19 and those who are vaccinated can still develop Long Covid. Some studies indicate that Flurona (Covid-19 + Influenza co-infections) may also increase risk of hospitalisation and death.

Research indicates that universal mask wearing may reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. The effectiveness of face masks depends on consistent and correct use, including covering the nose and mouth adequately to ensure a good seal. Evidence suggests N95's offer greater protection than surgical face masks. Well-fitted respirators also help to protect you, the wearer, in addition to those around you. Surgical face masks and N95 respirators should be TGA approved to ensure they meet Australian standards. N95 respirators should be fit tested to ensure a proper seal. Cloth masks may be better than no protection but are significantly less efficient than surgical face masks and the quality and effectiveness of cloth masks are not regulated in Australia. A better seal may be obtained with surgical face masks by using the "knot and tuck" technique and/or using adhesive tape. The effectiveness of masks may be reduced if they are damp, dirty, become difficult to breathe in after wearing for a period or if you have facial hair.

Improving indoor ventilation may reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. Research suggests that a consistent indoor air concentration of less than 800 parts per million (ppm) CO2 is likely to indicate that a space is well ventilated. CO2 monitoring may help to identify areas of poor ventilation. Opening doors and windows may help to improve natural ventilation. Mechanical ventilation eg air purifiers or cleaners such as those fitted with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can lower the concentration of airborne contaminants (including viruses) in the air and are useful additions in areas with poor ventilation. Recirculation settings on air conditioning units should not be used.

At Re-Balanced Bodies, we treat many clients who are in vulnerable groups for Covid-19, including clients who are immunocompromised. Aside from the health aspects, Jodie is self employed with no sick or annual leave entitlements, has ongoing commercial rent even if unwell and not working, and also has a right to protect her own physical and mental health and ability to earn a living.

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