Spas and wellness centers prepare for ‘new normal’

While waiting for the green light from the government to resume operations, some spa and wellness centers have begun preparing for the “new normal.”

According to Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, spas will implement several measures to prevent the possible transmission of the coronavirus.

Customers will have their body temperatures taken and will also be asked to leave their shoes on a rack upon entering; a “no shower or steam, no massage” policy will be implemented; and rooms will be regularly disinfected.

Meanwhile, massage therapists will don complete personal protective equipment.

Customers will also be asked to wear face masks when facing their therapists and no head massages will be allowed.

They will also be required to drink virgin coconut oil, ginger tea, colloidal silver, and other similar drinks with antibacterial properties before and after their massage.

Meanwhile, spa owners and employees lamented the loss of their livelihood amid the quarantine.

“Naiiyak ako kasi marami sa mga therapists namin siyempre ang inaasahan lang, ‘yung pang-araw-araw. No work, no pay,” said Boots Policarpio, general manager of Family Health Spa and Wellness.

“May direct contact so ‘yun pa lamang… ‘yung sa physical distancing po natin, hindi ka naman puwede magmasahe nang malayo ka,” Labor Assistant Secretary Dominique Tutay explained.

The Department of Labor and Employment said they cannot guarantee when spas will be allowed to resume operations.

“Sana payagan na rin po kaming magbukas kasi po handa kaming isugal ang buhay namin para lang mabuhay, kesa po maghintay kami sa wala,” massage therapist RJ Yco said.

“Ayaw naman po natin na tuluyang mawala ‘yung industriya na ‘yan because, in fact, nangunguna rin po ang Pilipinas pagdating diyan,” Tutay assured.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said some 7.3 million Filipinos were unemployed as of April 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, a record-high in the past decade. — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News