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***Updated 5/21***

Links to Executive Order 141 and guiding documents:

https://files.nc.gov/gove…/documents/files/EO141-Phase-2.pdf

https://files.nc.gov/…/NCDHHS-Interim-Guidance-for-Salons-P…

This was sent earlier today from the BMBT:

Notice to LMBTs RE: Executive Order No. 141

On May 20, 2020, Governor Cooper issued EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 141 which provides for Phase 2 of easing restrictions on travel, business operations and mass gatherings in North Carolina.

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 141 provides in Section 6 D that certain businesses, including massage therapists and establishments that provide massage, may operate so long as they are in compliance with the following requirements:

Limit customers inside the establishment to Emergency Maximum Occupancy. Under this Executive Order, the Emergency Maximum Occupancy for a massage therapist and establishments that provide massage is the lowest number produced by applying the following two tests: 1. Limit the number of customers in the store to fifty percent (50%) of stated fire capacity (or, for spaces without a stated fire capacity, no more than twelve (12) customers for every one thousand (1000) square feet of the location’s total square footage, including the parts of the location that are not accessible to customers or guests). Limit the number of people in the store so that clients can stay six (6) feet apart.

Arrange seating so that groups of clients are separated from one another by six (6) feet. Massage therapists and workers shall wear Face Coverings when they are within six (6) feet of another person. “Face Covering” means a covering of the nose and mouth by wearing a covering or mask for the purpose of ensuring the physical health or safety of the wearer or others as defined in Session Law 2020-3 s. 4.3(a). In the context of the COVID-1 9 emergency, the Face Covering works to protect other people more than the wearer.

Notwithstanding this general requirement, people whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a Face Covering, people who cannot wear a Face Covering due to a medical or behavioral condition, and people who are under twelve (12) years of age are excepted from the requirement to wear a Face Covering. Children under two (2) years of age shall not wear a Face Covering so that their breathing may not be inhibited.

Follow the Core Signage, Screening, and Sanitation Requirements as defined in this Executive Order, except for the requirement to have signage remind people about staying six (6) feet apart. The Core Signage, Screening, and Sanitation Requirements which massage therapists and establishments that provide massage therapy must follow are:Post the Emergency Maximum Occupancy in a noticeable place.
Post signage reminding clients and workers about social distancing (staying at least six (6) feet away from others) and requesting that people who have been symptomatic with fever and/or cough not enter.
Conduct daily symptom screening of workers, using a standard interview questionnaire of symptoms, before workers enter the workplace.
Immediately isolate and remove sick workers.
Perform frequent and routine environmental cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas with an EPA-approved disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19).

For reference, NCDHHS has prepared sample signs and a sample screening checklist questionnaire, available at https://covid19.ncdhhs.gov/guidance, that may be used to meet some of the requirements above. Businesses or operations do not need to use the NCDHHS sample signs and questionnaires to meet the requirements of Executive Order 141.

e. Ensure that all equipment that comes into direct personal contact with clients and all furniture in service areas is completely cleaned and disinfected between each customer.
f. Mark six (6) feet of spacing in lines at point of sale and in other high-traffic areas for clients, such as at cash registers and waiting areas.

EO 141 also recommends that clients of massage therapists and massage establishments are strongly encouraged to wear Face Coverings when they are within six (6) feet of another person, unless they cannot wear Face Coverings due to religious beliefs, age, or a medical or behavioral health condition.

Governor Cooper’s EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 141 is effective at 5:00 pm on May 22, 2020 and shall remain in effect through 5:00 pm on June 26, 2020 unless repealed, replaced, or rescinded by another applicable Executive Order.

It is up to massage therapists and establishments that provide massage therapy services to comply with Governor Cooper’s Executive Orders, as well as any order or directive from local governments that are more strict. Massage therapists and establishments that provide massage therapy services should take personal responsibility for their safety and the safety of their workers and clients. Massage therapists and establishments that provide massage therapy services may open and practice but are not required to open and practice and should not open and practice if they cannot reasonably assure their safety and the safety of their workers and clients.

Once the Governor acts on future phases, the Board will provide more information on how those phases and restrictions will affect massage and bodywork therapy establishments and massage and bodywork therapists returning to practice.

An additional note – If your county or town is more strict, then those are the regulations you will follow. For Example – Durham will not open until June 1.

We’re All In This Together

Dear AMTA Family,

As we navigate these unprecedented times together, AMTA is committed to supporting you in every way we can, including keeping you up to date on new developments related to massage and COVID-19 and your state’s reopening process.

North Carolina Reopening Update

As a follow up to our May 8th message, we want to make sure you saw the new executive order issued by Governor Cooper that allows massage therapists to reopen effective 5pm tomorrow, May 22, if they follow specific guidelines issued by the state Department of Health and Human Services.

We Support You

As a reminder, here are some important considerations for you and your practice as you cautiously plan to begin seeing clients again. AMTA is your partner, and we have resources to help guide and support you:

• Intake Forms

• Digital Marketing Tips

• Locator Service Profile Listing Tool

• An Extensive Free CE Library including business and marketing guidance

• Managing Your Own Self-Care

Your Liability Coverage

Many of you have also had questions about your liability insurance coverage when you begin to see clients again. As long as you are practicing legally and in accordance with federal, state and facility guidelines, your AMTA liability insurance will cover you as it always does.

We continue to encourage you to check our COVID-19 page for the latest updates and guidance. AMTA remains committed to helping our community navigate this difficult time. You can count on us to continue to advocate for you, your massage therapy career, and the path forward.

Your AMTA Team

 

 

 

 

**Updated 4/23**

Press Release for 4/23

 

COVID-19 EXECUTIVE ORDER

At a press conference held at 1:00 pm on Monday, March 23, 2020, Governor Roy Cooper issued an executive order stating all massage therapy businesses along with spas, hair, nails, and more, must shut down by 5:00 Wednesday at the latest due to COVID-19. At the moment there is no end date that we can find.

If you are a W-2 employee, you qualify for unemployment. When filing, put COVID-19 for the reason for separation. This will not go against your employer. Here is a link explaining.

https://des.nc.gov/need-help/covid-19-information

If you are a s-corp paying unemployment on yourself, you should qualify for unemployment.

If you are an independent contractor receiving a 1099, at the moment you do not qualify for unemployment. However, if the state receives a federal disaster declaration which they have asked for, then you may qualify, in which case you would apply under Disaster Relief on the state unemployment website. Here is a link that is not yet updated from the last hurricane.

https://files.nc.gov/des/documents/Downloads/dua_des_handout_trifold_bw_m_r.pdf

We understand this is a financial hardship on everyone. There are some part time jobs available such as grocery stores and delivery services. We understand that several counties and/or cities have mandated that essential services cannot be cut off. You can call each provider to work out payment plans. Most cities have food banks, soup kitchens if you need food. The schools are feeding the children during the week. If you rent, call your landlord to work out a payment plan. If you own, call your mortgage company or your PMI provider if you have it to work out payment plans.

If you are to renew your license this year, the BMBT has stated you can do all 24 hours online. There are many free classes, check the AMTA website first.

We appreciate each of our members. We are working diligently with our lobbyist and the legislature to ensure we all receive the assistance we need for our massage and bodywork practices.

In the meantime, please stay at home, wash your hands frequently, and practice social distancing of 6’ when you do have to go out. If you do get sick, call your doctor but do not go into their office unless instructed to do so. Let’s all do whatever we can to slow this virus down so we can get back to our businesses and clients that we love so much.

Rachel Mann

Government Relations Chair

 

 

Click here to have a letter submitted to congress to petition for financial aid relief from COVID-19

 

 

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