IS A MASK REQUIRED?

We certainly hope that this is the LAST update that we will ever need to provide on this subject. The pandemic has been declared over in the United States as of May 11, 2023. While this does not mean that Covid-19 has been eradicated, it does mean that it no longer poses a significant threat to every day life. Masks are not required, but will remain optional. Our Licensed Massage Therapists will still mask up, upon request. We will continue with the same cleaning that we have always done as well as running air purifiers in every room. We continue to ask that you cancel and reschedule if you are showing signs of viral illness. If a threat pops up in the future, we will return to masking temporarily, if needed. As we have said many times over the past three years, THANK YOU for cooperating and allowing us to operate safely during the pandemic. We quite literally could not have done this without your help!

IT WAS GOOD WHILE IT LASTED.

Beginning on Friday, May 13, 2022, Health & Harmony will now require masks to be worn at all times in our office. Ingham County's community level of transmission has went up back up to medium. The mask requirement will go away when the community level of transmission returns to low AND Ingham County's reported Covid cases are under 10 per 100,000 people per day. We are not requiring screening, however, we still ask that you please cancel your appointment and reschedule if you meet ANY of the following conditions: 

• You are sick! 
• You, or a household member, have had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 10 days. 
• You were exposed to COVID-19 AND are currently waiting for test results. 
• You, or a household member, are experiencing new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection. 

If you need to cancel, please try to give at least 24-hours’ notice. Our office and cancellation policies can be found here (bottom of the page). As always, we appreciate your cooperation and participation in keeping our community safe and healthy!

We’ve noticed an increase this week in patients who do not agree with our office masking policy. We understand that masks and vaccines are hot button issues and just like you, we wish that the pandemic never happened and that these kinds of decisions didn’t have to be made. But it did happen. There are valid points on both sides of the debate, but since infectious disease is not our area of expertise, we defer to the experts. We feel our wisest choice for the health and safety of our clientele and staff is to follow the recommendations of the CDC, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and the Ingham County Health Department, all of whom advise that masks should be worn by everyone indoors if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission. Ingham County has been an area of high transmission since the beginning of August.

Our mask policy is not up for debate or negotiation. Our policy is clearly stated and without exception, for any reason. We understand and respect one’s desire to make their own health decisions. While we do not offer a choice about wearing a mask in our office, you do have a choice about whether or not you visit our establishment. If our masking policy does not align with your personal beliefs, then we respectfully ask that you wait until after our masking requirement has been lifted to visit Health & Harmony. We thank you for your understanding and full cooperation. 

COVID RESTRICTIONS ARE LIFTED!

Per the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (MDHHS), all Covid restriction are lifted as of June 22, 2021! We are no longer requiring screening or masks in our office. Of course, we still welcome you to mask up, if you wish. Our lobby is open and we are finally operating business as usual. Our cleaning protocols are still in place (they always were, FYI).  We ask that you please cancel your appointment and reschedule if you meet ANY of the following conditions:

• You are sick!
• You, or a household member, have had a positive COVID-19 test in the past 14 days.
• You were exposed to COVID-19 AND are currently waiting for test results.
• You, or a household member, are experiencing new symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection.
• If you need to cancel, please try to give at least 24-hours’ notice. Our office and cancellation policies can be found here (bottom of the page)

WE'RE STILL HANGING ON.

We haven't updated in a while because things have been going OK since re-opening. We continue to do everything within our power to operate safely, but it's become more challenging and increasingly scary by the day. Now that the second-wave of Covid is here and much worse than the first, we want to clarify a few of our office policies. 

MASKS

1. DO NOT ENTER OUR BUILDING WITHOUT A MASK ON! If you forgot one, ring the doorbell and we'll bring one out. 
2. Masks are required at all times while inside our building (this includes in the restroom). Please do not pull down your mask to speak!
3. Masks must be clean, fitted, and worn properly. We do not allow neck gaiters, bandanas, scarfs, or ill-fitting masks. If your mask does not fit snugly, we will ask you to tape it down (with skin-safe tape) or change into one of ours.
4. Your mask must remain on during your entire massage. We will end your massage if you "sneak" your mask under your nose while face down on the massage table. 
5. We do not allow any exceptions to our masking-policy, medical or otherwise. If you are unable (or unwilling) to wear a mask, we will not see you right now.

We understand our mask policy may seem extreme, even a bit Draconian, but please understand, it is the ONLY protection our Massage Therapists have against people who may unknowingly be infected. Massage Therapists obviously work in a small, enclosed space and can't socially distance or use barriers, so we must insist that our patients wear masks correctly for our safety. We have heard other massage studios don't follow the same masking standards and quite frankly, we don't care what other places are doing. We think masks are hot and uncomfortable too, but we all must protect one another by not sacrificing someone else's safety for our own comfort. We are making Health & Harmony as safe as humanly possible for our patients and staff alike. Please help us stay open by respecting our policies. 

SCREENING

Please cancel your appointment if:

1. You are experiencing any new Covid-like symptoms.
2. You have been knowingly exposed and/or ordered to quarantine within the last 14 days.
3. Anyone in your immediate household has been knowingly exposed and/or ordered to quarantine within the last 14 days.
4. You are waiting for Covid-19 test results.
5. You have been in an indoor public place unmasked (or not properly masked) within the last 14 days.
6. We ask that you try to give at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel. You can read our cancellation policy details here. 

Our policies are such because we will not sacrifice the health and safety of our patients or staff. We are "over it" too, but our ability to work through a pandemic hinges entirely on having an effective plan and enforcing it. As we work to navigate through this pandemic together, we ask for your understanding and patience. If you have any questions, please let us know. We appreciate your cooperation.

~Kim

WE ARE OPEN!!!

It's official, we are back in business! I am still trying to make it through all the rescheduling. As soon as it's done, online scheduling will be reactivated. Of course, the office is going to be a little different for the foreseeable future as we are taking extra precautions with the intake of each client, health history review, as well as sanitation and disinfecting practices. Everyone inside the building must wear a mask at all times (we will provide one) and be screened at every visit via a questionnaire and a temperature check. We do have our lobby closed as well and ask that you wait in your car for your appointment. Other than that, the rest of the changes are behind the scenes. Please note, most of these aren't actually changes - we have always washed our hands before and after each appointment, laundered linens with high heat, etc. - we just want you to know what we are doing to protect the health and safety of our guests and staff. 

Health & Harmony Office Practices: 

• Every massage therapist washes their hands with soap and hot water up to their elbows, and scrubs under the fingernails, before and after every massage as well as after handling dirty linens or other massage equipment and/or cleaning. 
• Massage tables, face cradles, as well as all hard surfaces (light switches, side tables, clothes bins, doorknobs, etc.) in the massage room are cleaned with 70% alcohol after every patient. 
• Hard surfaces around the office, such as doorknobs, countertops, side tables, bathroom fixtures, etc. are cleaned frequently with 70% alcohol. 
• All linens are laundered with All Free & Clear, Oxiclean or Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (to strip away oil residue in the sheets) and are washed and dried on high-temperature cycles.
• Your massage therapist will wear a face mask at all times and will don a fresh apron for each appointment. 
• We will turn away any patient who's screening questionnaire turns up a risk factor and/or appears to be infected with a viral illness. We will not work on patients who are ill. 
• All staff will be screened daily for temperature and COVID-19 symptoms.
• All staff will stay home if not feeling well and/or will be sent home if they do not pass the daily screening.

Rest assured, we will not sacrifice the health and safety of our patients or staff. We don't like this new way of operating either, but if we want to stay open, we must be absolutely stringent in protecting your safety and ours. As we work to navigate through this pandemic together, we ask for your understanding and patience. If you have any questions, please let us know. We appreciate your cooperation.

~Kim

WE ARE RE-OPENING JUNE 15TH!

It feels great to finally be able to give a re-opening date! Thanks for sticking with us during our 12-week long closure - we will re-open on Monday, June 15th! As of right now, the state has not issued us any guidelines, so we don't know if we have to open with reduced capacity. As soon as we know, we will begin contacting all those who's appointments have been cancelled over the past three months. We have temporarily removed online scheduling so that we can get our rescheduling done. Once we have taken care of cancellations and those with memberships, we will open back up for all other appointments. WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU! 

~Kim

WE ARE CLOSED FOR BUSINESS, MARCH 21ST - APRIL 13TH.

Governor Whitmer ordered that all non-essential medical facilities shut down by March 22nd. We are flattered and appreciate that so many of you consider us essential to your health -- we will back to helping you just as soon as it is safe to do so!

We have cancelled all appointments scheduled for the next three weeks. Under the Governor's order, we must remain closed until April 13th. Online scheduling is still available for April 14th and beyond. We have not rescheduled the cancelled appointments yet – we will wait until we are closer to April 14th to see if things are clearing up and its looking like we might reopen. If we are not able to reopen on April 14th, we will take it week-by-week thereafter. 

If you have a membership or pre-paid package, we hope that you will not cancel or suspend your membership during our closure (if you are financially able to keep it going). Obviously, the impact to small business is huge (as well as terrifying) during these unprecedented times. Overhead expenses remain regardless of whether or not we are open for business. We will be able to weather the storm a little easier if all income doesn’t come to a screeching halt. You can bank up those membership massages and come in EXTRA when we open again (you’re gonna need it!) or share extra visits with friends and family. You can even cash them out for a gift certificate! During our closure, we will also have all gift certificates and packages on sale. Again, if you are financially able to do so, please take advantage of our sale pricing and bank up some future visits and/or gifts!

When the weather gets nicer, new LMT Andy would like to hold some outdoor yoga sessions on our patio (state- and safety-permitting). We’re going to use this opportunity to do all the things that there is never time to do and we hope you do too! Please keep an eye on our website and social media as we will be posting some fun and fresh new content for both Health & Harmony and Harmony Naturals. During our closed time, voicemail and email will be checked and returned daily so please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please stay safe and healthy! Thank you for your ongoing support – it means the world to us! We’ll look forward to seeing and serving you again soon!

~Kim

As of now, we are still open and plan to be as long as we can safely operate and are allowed to do so. In order to stay open, we must insist that in the past 14 days:

• If you or anyone you are in close contact with has been exposed to COVID-19, or
• If you have shown or are showing signs of viral infection (such as any cold or flu symptoms including, but not limited to fever, dry cough, shortness of  breath, sore throat, etc.), or
• If you have traveled internationally

Your appointment MUST be rescheduled for a later date! We are using this screening questionnaire to make sure we are not taking any unnecessary risks for our patients or staff. Thank you for your understanding and patience during these uncertain times.

As the COVID-19 situation continues to change in our state, we are updating our practices in order to be as safe as possible and in compliance with the Governor Whitmer's executive orders. Kim spent all morning on the phone trying to figure out if massage therapy offices are supposed to close down. As of right now, we are not mandated to close and therefore, we will stay open. However, in order to comply with the CDC’s best practices and the social distancing directives from the state, we are implementing the following, effective immediately: 

· We are closing off our lobby – we ask that when you arrive for your appointment, simply call the office line to check in (no text) from your car. Wait in your car or outside until we call you to tell you your therapist is ready. 

· There is now a link for a screening questionnaire in your confirmation email and text. We are asking every patient to complete this upon every visit. Requiring that screening questionnaire be completed by every single person that enters our office will help us keep everyone safe. 

· All new patients will complete intake forms on their own smartphone (or directly with your LMT).

· If you didn't complete the intake form and/or screening questionnaire before your appointment, there is note on our front door with QR codes linked to the forms you will need. If you have trouble with the forms or don't have a smartphone, please call inside and let your let the front desk know.

While we understand these extra steps may be inconvenient, this crisis won't last long term and the most important thing is that we are doing everything within our power to keep our patients and our staff safe. We greatly appreciate your cooperation during this difficult time.  

We know you have already received countless notifications about coronavirus and how various businesses, schools, etc, are dealing with COVID-19. We feel given the nature of our business, it is important that you hear our plan to protect your health and ours.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency on March 10th, after the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Michigan. This decision enables the state to provide additional financial and other assistance to local governments and hospitals in an effort to help slow the spread of this respiratory illness. It does not mean we should panic.

We continue to closely monitor the progression of COVID-19, which is a novel form of the coronavirus. In addition to MDHHS, we are drawing on information from a number of trusted healthcare sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and our county health department. At this time, all of these organizations are recommending care and vigilance to ensure we stop the spread of this illness, but currently, there is no recommendation from the Ingham County Health Department for the closing of local businesses. We will continue to stay open unless advised otherwise. We are a small office where there typically are not more than 10 people in the office at one time and all 10 would never be gathered in one place, regardless. We also do not work on patients who are ill. 

With the information available right now, we feel confident that our precautions will keep our staff and our patients safe. We have been and will continue following established best practices to reduce risk – much as we do during the cough, cold, and flu season anyway.  

Health & Harmony office practices: 

· Every massage therapist washes their hands with soap and hot water up to their elbows before and after every massage as well as after handling dirty linens or other massage equipment 

· Massage table face cradles and arm slings are cleaned with Decon30 (a hospital grade virucidal cleaner) or 70% alcohol after every patient 

· Hard surfaces around the office, such as doorknobs, countertops, side tables, bathroom fixtures, etc. are cleaned multiple times daily with  Decon30 or 70% alcohol 

· All linens are laundered with All Free & Clear, Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (to strip away oil residue in the sheets) and are washed and hot water; all linens are dried on high heat for 60 minutes

· Massage therapists will stay home if not feeling well

· Massage therapist will turn away any patient who appears to be infected with a viral illness 

What we ask of you:

· Please use the hand sanitizer in the massage room prior to getting on the massage table 

· Follow the CDC recommendations of:

• Practice good hand hygiene
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• If you are sick, stay home! This is imperative! 
  • If you are experiencing fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, or any other typical symptoms of flu or cold, please        reschedule your appointment for when you are no longer symptomatic 
  • If you think you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, please reschedule your appointment for a later date  
  • If you need to cancel, please try to give 24-hours notice (12-hours minimum)

We recognize everyone has to make decisions about their personal health, as well as the health of their families. Rest assured, we will not sacrifice the health and safety of our patients or staff. As we work to navigate this together, we ask for your understanding and patience as the situation is ongoing and changing rapidly. We will continue to monitor the situation and these organizations to ensure we are following their advice. If you have any questions, please let us know. 

With a warm heart and clean hands, 

Kim