“NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML) in Hamilton, Montana, produced images of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2, previously known as 2019-nCoV) on its scanning and transmission electron microscopes on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. “
If you are adhering to social distancing to avoid infection and/or wearing a mask in an effort to reduce your risk of inadvertent transmission–
thank you.
How Come Other Places Are Open?
The simple answer is: Because they have been allowed.
But to truly and effectively answer that question would be more complicated. There are too many variables that affect the motivation of other establishments’ and/or sole practioners’ decisions. Some of those variables have to do with the size of the company; employee obligations; core values; personal philosophies; heirarchy of needs.
One thing is certain, each therapist and/or business owner needs your support in order to stay well and stay in business. When you visit your therapist, try to ensure that you have “social-distanced” appropriately in the weeks leading up to your session…take the screening process seriously.
We are all in this together.
What are bāsalt’s concerns?
Tourism is a multi-billion dollar industry on the Jersey Shore. bāsalt’s customers come from all over the country for a massage while they are on vacation. Conversely, some Ocean City locals try to get off the island during the busy season. This pandemic has not stopped interstate traveling.
Despite COVID-19 cases being on the decline in NJ, as compared to earlier in the pandemic, there is currently a surge in cases across the country.
To add to the mix, we are on the heels of 4th of July celebrations; larger social gatherings; questionable ability to adequately social distance, etc.
We will only know in the coming weeks how Ocean City and the surrounding Shore communities will be impacted by these factors. There are a lot of moving parts to be concerned about.
How Come You’re Not Open Yet?
bāsalt is a small business that does not answer to shareholders–just a consummate worry-wart.
The owner has 20 years in the healthcare industry and feels strongly that a decision to re-open a massage studio during a pandemic seems paradoxical especially if done on a whim.
Staging the re-opening of bāsalt is requiring in-depth analysis of the mission, vision, responsibilities to the public, and goals. I wish it could include evidence that best practice guidelines have successfully mitigated risk in similar settings, but we aren’t afforded the gift of restrospect whilst we wade through a flood of sometimes conflicting data during a pandemic.
What are bāsalt’s goals?
First and foremost: mitigate risk for the immediate Ocean City community.
Weighing risks v. benefits is not as easy as it sounds. Simple pros and cons lists are inadequate when one of the cons could mean inadvertently being ground zero for an infection that takes someone’s life.
However, the first step in providing services for this population is ensuring that they are entering the premises fully informed and without a false sense of security.
Does bāsalt have a re-opening strategy?
Yes. Some of the items on bāsalt’s “Phase 1 Re-opening Wish List” are pending, but–for the most part–a strategy is in place.
More compassionate mind, more sense of concern for other’s well-being, is source of happiness.
Dalai Lama