COVID-19 POLICY

Spark Massage Remedies has always taken the highest standard approach to infection control to maintaining a safe and hygienic environment. With Covid-19, we continue to review our policies and procedures to ensure they are based on up to date, best practice health recommendations. The health, safety and well-being of all our clients and their families has always been our number one concern.  This coupled with the impact individuals can play on the wider community has made it paramount to have clear, effective policies in place that are reviewed regularly.

In line with Victorian government recommendations for managing Covid-19, policies are in place that cover:

  • Managing a Positive Case
  • Managing Vaccination Status
  • Record Keeping
  • Face Masks & PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
  • Improving Indoor Air Quality
  • Practise Good Hygiene
  • and Physical Distancing

We monitor community transmission within local areas to assist determining the most appropriate course of action at any given time. We stay up to date with latest science-based research into Covid-19 management.

Managing A Positive Case

Clients and staff should not attend an appointment if they or any of their immediate close contacts have been identified as at risk of having been infected with Covid-19 or are showing symptoms identified as potential indicators of Covid-19. These include fever, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or congestion, dry cough, anosmia (loss of smell), dysgeusia (distortion of taste), excessive tiredness, unexplained muscle or joint aches and pains, unexplained headaches, chills or night sweats, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite, chest pain, diarrhoea or conjunctivitis.

If you are showing any symptoms of Covid-19, no matter how mild, please reschedule your appointment. Please advise if you have been notified of any Covid-19 exposures in the last 14 days so we can reschedule. If you or a close contact have tested positive to Covid-19, please reschedule your appointment until either 14 days after the positive test, or 7 days after you have been cleared to leave isolation, whichever is later.

If you test positive for Covid-19 within 48 hours after your massage, please let us know. Your privacy will be maintained while our own notification and other Covid-19 protocols are activated.

In the event of the therapist is exposed to a Covid-19 positive person during the potential infectious period, the following protocols will occur:

  • Any other clients who attended the clinic after the exposure will be notified that there has been a potential exposure so they can monitor for symptoms.
  • The therapist will undertake Covid-19 testing and will postpone appointments for 7 days while testing negative or if positive, for 14 days or until after the risk of infectiousness has passed, whichever is longer.
  • The treatment space will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before appointments resume.

Managing Vaccination Status

Mandatory government check in is no longer required. Our appointment booking system contains private records we can use to securely identify and notify you if there is a chance you have been exposed to Covid-19 while attending our premises.

We encourage all eligible persons be up to date with their Covid-19 vaccinations before attending a massage appointment. We will record your record vaccination status but do not need to keep a copy of your vaccination certificate. If you have a valid medical exemption from Covid-19 vaccinations, you are encouraged to phone to book rather than booking online to ensure the safest appointment time is made for you. Please refer to our Vaccination Policy for full details.

Record Keeping

Clients must complete a pre-screening form prior to each appointment to screen for risk factors associated with Covid-19. It will also assess if the risk of complications from exposure outweighs the benefit of a massage treatment.

Contact details of attendees are kept in line with our Privacy Policy and may only be shared where required by law.

Details of vaccination status are kept securely as part of health records. We are not required to keep a copy of your proof of vaccination certificate. We do record your status as part of ensuring we create a safe environment for you and our other clients.

Face Masks & PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

All clients will be supplied with a TGA approved face mask to wear in the massage treatment room and are expected to keep it on for the duration of their appointment. Guidance is provided to clients on correct face mask use at the time of supply.

The practitioner wears TGA approved P2 / N95 mask at all times on premises. The practitioner also has TGA approved eye protection for use in line with Department of Health guidelines.

We use gloves for cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

Improving Air Quality

As massage is performed in an enclosed space, we require the use of face coverings to minimise any airborne particles, thereby reducing potential viral load in the treatment room. The treatment room has an air purifier with HEPA filter and is ventilated for at least 30 minutes between appointments. Air quality is monitored with a CO2 monitor.

Practice Good Hygiene

Clients are provided with hand sanitiser for use upon arrival.

All staff wash and/or sanitise their hands before and after any contact with clients. A clean hand towel is used for each separate time the therapist washes their hands.

We use cleaning products tested as effective against the Covid-19 virus and allow time for the active ingredient to perform.

We regularly clean and disinfect high touch surfaces.

Linens are cleaned and stored in accordance with NHMRC (National Health & Medical Research Council) guidelines for Health Care Settings and the AS/NZS 4146:2000 Laundry Practice Standards.

All PPE utilised is Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) approved.

The treatment room permits 2 people. Clients are advised to attend their appointment on their own to avoid overcrowding the air space. In the case of a minor being treated where a parent or guardian must remain in attendance, the door to the massage room may be left ajar to minimise viral load in the treatment space, privacy permitting.

Physical Distancing

The nature of massage makes it extremely difficult to maintain the recommended distance during treatment. However, before and after treatment a physical distance of 1.5 metres or greater is maintained.

We ask our clients to not arrive early to minimise time mixing with other clients. Massage appointments are spaced apart to minimise client cross over and ventilation of the room.

Thank you for your support in keeping each other safe. As always, if you have any questions, please get in touch.