Pulse September 2020 | Page 70

SNAPSHOT SURVEY BY JAMISON STOIKE REOPENING CONTINUES JUNE 2020 l l l KEY TAKEAWAY: THE PROCESS OF REOPENING CONTINUES, but not every spa respondent had reopened as of June 2020. Only 62 percent had reopened at the time, with an additional 22 percent intending to reopen before the end of July. Both reopened spas and those still closed reported similar plans to make PPE available to guests and employees. However, spas which have not reopened were less likely to implement touchless payments, require a COVID-19 waiver, allow guests to bypass lockers or temporarily close locker rooms than those spas that are already open. Among spa respondents, saunas and steam rooms were the most-frequently-cited area of the spa to be closed (72 percent). 44 percent of spas have discontinued couples massage and 32 percent are no longer offering in-person fitness or yoga classes. NO NERVOUSNESS Reopened spa respondents indicated that employees, guests and local communities were overwhelmingly favorable to reopening and returning to work. 83 percent of reopened spas said that staff had a highly favorable or favorable response to reopening, and 89 percent said the same of new policies and procedures. 93 percent of spas reported a favorable reaction to reopening among guests, and 82 percent felt their communities had a favorable reopening response. PREPARE FOR THE WORST, HOPE FOR THE BEST No one wants an outbreak of COVID-19 in their spa, but it may happen regardless of how stringent your sanitation and hygiene policies are. In that case, it’s best to have a plan for what to do when it happens before it actually happens. This month, Snapshot Survey respondents were asked to share their plans in response to a confirmed case of COVID-19 in their spa. l “If an employee is confirmed with COVID-19, we would request he/she isolate as soon as possible, then leave the spa facility. The spa would likely close down for deep cleaning. Contact tracing would also be l l l instituted. Same procedures for [guests], but we would have a separate private room for further screening and handling of issue.” “Inform Department of Health, quarantine and inform affected staff, leave the treatment room unoccupied for 72 hours, then disinfect.” “Notify team, without mentioning any names. Employee must be fever-free for 72 hours and then stay home for 14 days. Increase sanitation/disinfection procedures. OSHA recordkeeping requirements mandate covered employers record certain work-related injuries and illnesses on their OSHA 300 log.” “We have a Guest COVID-19 Contact Tracing Form in addition to our Consent & Release Form. It will be in a link in the confirmation. Guests will not be admitted without it.” 58 PULSE ■ SEPTEMBER 2020