Irene’s Mask Policy
Starting September 14, 2022
Masks Not Required
Addressing COVID-19
September 14, 2022
Beginning September 14, regardless of vaccination status you no longer have to wear a mask in the building. Masks are required while both giving or receiving a massage regardless of vaccination status.
Drinking water is allowed and then mask back up. Eating only allowed in Student Lounge six feet apart.
Vaccines are Free
Vaccines
We are in the middle of a global deadly pandemic. Unless you are ineligible (medical reasons or age), getting vaccinated is the right thing to do for the greater good. Please take this crucial step!
Vaccines are Free – Irene’s encourages everyone eligible to receive a vaccine to do so! This position is based on scientific evidence. Getting vaccinated not only protects yourself, but also protects the health of those around you.
Vaccinated people are far less likely to spread the disease. Regardless of personal opinion, vaccination is crucial to put an end to the pandemic, while also protecting those unable to get vaccinated.
Irene’s embraces diversity. The school policy is to respect the opinion of others. Getting vaccinated has ceased being a personal decision.
While this position applies to all of the general public, it is especially important for massage therapists. Those of you who have chosen to work in this industry, did so out of a desire to help others to be healthy. It is your ultimate responsibility to provide a safe environment for your clients to receive your services.
There is a place in today’s world for modern medicine. It is true that our school teaches natural approaches to health. Irene was adamant about healthy lifestyles and teaching holistic health. However, she still had me vaccinated as a child. She understood the importance of protecting oneself and others.
Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. For example, the smallpox vaccination eradicated that disease worldwide.
We appreciate your cooperation while we, along with the rest of the world, work to find the best solutions in these trying times. We are doing what science is telling us is best for all of you. Thank you for your support!
Vaccines are Free – Irene’s encourages anyone eligible to receive a vaccine to do so! We understand some people are not able to be vaccinated due to age or health conditions. Otherwise, if you are not yet vaccinated, it is time to run, not walk, to get the shot.
According to statistics, the vaccination protects the majority of people from contracting the virus, or at least from getting deathly ill. While some who are vaccinated contract the virus, those who do, are not experiencing severe symptoms, do not require hospitalization, and do not die.
Regardless of personal opinions, we follow safety precautions recommended by health experts to keep our community safe.
Yours in Light and Love,
Kathy Skubik
Who Needs to Quarantine
Test positive and/or display symptoms (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea).
- Isolate for 5 days; and
- If symptoms have improved or no symptoms developed, return to school on day 6.
- If individual has a fever, stay home until you are free of fever for a minimum of 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- Must wear mask for five days upon return to campus if tested positive for Covid.
What Counts as Close Contact?
- You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
- You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
- You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
- You shared eating or drinking utensils
- They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
Steps to Take
Close contacts of a COVID-19 case regardless of vaccination status
Monitor for symptoms for 10 days. Test if symptoms develop.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.
To find a vaccine, visit VaccineFinder.org.
STAY HEALTHY
As COVID-19 is at the top of the headlines, Irene’s is choosing to focus on emphasizing health maintenance and minimizing panic. Join us in taking pragmatic steps to keep you and your family safe. Below are reasonable steps you can take to help keep yourself healthy.
- Boost your immune system! First and foremost, I urge all of you to do everything possible to stay healthy yourself. It is essential to prioritize your well-being and do all you can to boost your immune system. I urge you to utilize the lessons you have learned at Irene’s so you’re as healthy as possible in the unlikely event you encounter this virus. Research shows that sustaining healthy habits supports immunity and can help prepare our bodies to better fight and recover from illnesses.
- Stick to a nutrient-dense, toxin-free diet, including known immune-supportive foods like garlic and ginger. Avoid foods that tend to weaken the immune system, such as sugar, refined grains, and all processed and refined foods, as much as you can. Keep alcohol consumption to a minimum.
- Practice mindfulness. Research suggests that mindful meditation can have benefits for health including immune function.
- Get adequate sleep, ideally seven to eight hours a night. This is your body’s time to perform preventive maintenance, which bolsters the immune system. Research shows that repeatedly short-changing sleep by even an hour or two can negatively affect immunity.
- Get plenty of sunshine and supplemental Vitamin D and K2. High levels of Vitamin D have long been linked to lower rates of illness. Consider taking additional vitamins, micronutrients, and supplements to support immunity, such as a high-quality multivitamin, magnesium, omega-3, Vitamin C, elderberry, and digestive enzymes. Probiotics and powdered greens have also been shown to support immune and gut health.
- Get at least 20 minutes of low- to moderate-intensity exercise a day to prime the immune system. This movement results in the production of more white blood cells, which combat bacteria and viruses, and promotes improved circulation.
- Practice good hygiene! Following the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Michigan State Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), we recommend the following.
- Practice social distancing by staying at least six feet away from others.
- Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with soap and water to protect yourself and others from germs.
- Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. Then throw the tissue away.
- Avoid touching your face, because germs routinely spread when a person touches something contaminated with germs and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Please know we are grateful for your support during this ever-changing situation. We will all get through this together even at a distance. Stay safe and active. Keep smiling. This too shall pass.
Yours in Light and Love,
Kathy Skubik
Executive Director
Irene’s Myomassology Institute
Please call us, if you need something 248-350-1400