Coronavirus Website Information

Hello Hughes Chiropractic and Massage Families,

Hughes Chiropractic and Massage team has been monitoring the global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). As many of you already know, it appears that the virus originated in China, before spreading internationally.

It has been detected in 37 locations internationally including cases in the countries in which we operate; United States, Brazil, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines.

On Tuesday, February 25th, top U.S. public health officials encouraged Americans to prepare for the spread of the coronavirus in communities across the country.

What is Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. These viruses spread through coughing or sneezing, much like the flu. While for most, the risk is low, even if contracting the virus, we want to be diligent.

What is Hughes Chiropractic and Massage Doing?

We are closely monitoring the situation. At this time, our recommendation is to take the standard precautions to avoid the spread of respiratory illnesses, like flu and colds. However, we will monitor the CDC guidance carefully. If there is a broader spread or a local outbreak, we will follow the CDC’s department’s lead on any operational measures. Our focus will always be on how to ensure the safety of patients and staff.

What Can We All Do to Keep Office/Patients Healthy?

The risk to the general public from this virus is considered low, but just as is recommended for other respiratory viruses, people can protect themselves and others by practicing healthy everyday actions:

Practice and encourage good hand hygiene–

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Wash with soap and water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol to clean hands. We have placed hand sanitizers around our office.

Practice and encourage good respiratory etiquette–

• Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• If you are ill, you should try to distance yourself from others so you do not spread your germs. Distancing includes staying home from work/ school when possible.

Proper cleaning practices – to help avoid disease transmission–

• We provide hand sanitizer for use at check-in and in each treatment room.
• We are routinely cleaning using antibacterial wipes (like Lysol wipes) on counters, doorknobs, ipads, keyboards, and equipment, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• We provide disposable wipes for staff so that they can wipe down equipment.
• We’ve placed posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene at the entrance and around the office.****should we do this?
• No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning is recommended by the CDC at this time.

Feeling Sick? We Encourage Staff (and patients) to Stay Home!

• We encourage anyone who is feeling ill to stay home.
• The CDC suggests that employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants)

Always and Never

ALWAYS

• Staff always wipe down treatment tables before using
• Always wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after your appointment
• Sing Happy Birthday or Twinkle Twinkle to make sure you wash long enough!
• Always dry your hands after washing, with a disposable paper towel
• Sneeze or cough into your elbow, not your hand
• Staff is always wiping down doorknobs and surfaces after each patient with disinfectant
• Eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and get good rest

NEVER

• Share food, drinks, or utensils with anyone
• Come to Hughes Chiropractic and Massage when you or a family member is sick (fever, cough, sneezing, runny nose)
• Put your hands in your mouth, nose, and eyes
• Touch others’ faces or hands
• Come in contact with someone you know has symptoms of illness