Coping with COVID-19: General Health and Cleaning Guidelines
The Dance Docs would like to take this opportunity to convey some precautionary guidelines and information about protocols that can be put in place at dance facilities related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2). Much of the general health information bears repeating and serious attention in our shared workplace and in our daily lives. These are recommended guidelines based off of information from the the World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health (FDOH). These are overall standards to maintain year round to help maintain your health and wellness in the studios and theater.
At this time please check with your local governments to understand the severity of COVID-19 in your region and if you should consider asking your employees to stay at home.
General Health Guidelines:
As always, if you are sick, please do not come into work until you are recovered. Stay at home and rest. (Be a good sick person)
If you are running a fever please stay home, and call your doctor or urgent care center. If you have a fever at this time you are considered to have COVID-19 until proven otherwise
Fever is considered 100.4°F or above
It is good to have disposable thermometers on hand to distribute to employees, or for dancers to take home.
If you have dry cough (2nd most common symptom of COVID-19) call your doctor or urgent care center
If you have shortness of breath (3rd most common sign of COVID-19) call your doctor or urgent care center
Follow the self distancing and self-isolation protocols recommended by the CDC.
If you are around people it is recommended to maintain a distance of 6 feet (3 meters)
Self-isolation is recommended for 14 days for all individuals who have travelled internationally
If you have been around anyone who is sick, running a fever, or has been around an individual who has been traveling internationally, it is recommended that you self-isolate for 14 days
If you or someone you know from our workplace becomes ill (whether from coronavirus or a more common flu or cold), please inform the appropriate people so special attention can be given to particular dressing rooms and/or work areas that person may have frequented in your business.
It is encouraged that you to be extra vigilant and regularly sterilize your personal items (cellphones, outside of water bottles, etc.) or shared items (barre’s, gym equipment, hand weights, balls etc.)
Reminder on simple actions to practice:
Please practice respiratory hygiene
Cover coughs and sneezes
Sneeze or cough into a tissue and dispose immediately in a trashcan, follow up with washing your hands
Sneeze or cough into you elbow or upper sleeve
Perform hand hygiene regularly
Wash hand with soap and water for at least 20 seconds rubbing hands together vigorously
Do not forget to wash the back of your hands, wrists, in between fingers (think like a surgeon on Gray’s Anatomy)
Utilizing hand sanitizer that is at least 60-95% when soap and water is not available.
Key moments to perform hand hygiene:
After entering your house
After touching surfaces that may be contaminated
This includes shared spaces elevators, public doors, bathroom sinks, hand rails, after pumping gas etc.
Before and after class and rehearsals where you have been in contact with other dancers, props, etc.
After entering your car
Before eating
After using the restroom
After personal respiratory hygiene
Try not to touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth
Avoid shaking hands, if possible
remember jazz hands, interpretive dance, and tap solos are totally acceptable at this time
Being a dancer requires you to be partnering and engaging in close contact with other individuals at this time; make sure that you are taking the appropriate personal steps with respect to close human contact and interactions during this high-risk period.
Should you remain open at this time visitors to the studios should be limited to essential personnel only.
Health and Wellness Recommendations from PT
If you have a fever of 100.4°F/38°C or higher, cough, and shortness of breath, you should seek medical care. (FDOH guidelines)
Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office, urgent care or emergency department.
Tell your doctor about your recent travel and your symptoms.
Avoid contact with others.
Make sure that you are practicing the following to make sure that your immune system is working well:
Try your best to get ~8-9 hours of sleep
Make sure that you are eating a healthy balanced diet full of whole foods.
Stay hydrated (clear fluids are best)
Try to have appropriate supplies on hand at home or while traveling
Nutritional supplements:
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Zinc
Magnesium
Mucinex expectorant (for a productive cough)
Anti-inflammatory medication such as Tylenol, Advil, or Aspirin
Any other medication that you may take on a regular basis
Wipe down high touch surfaces of your home daily with a disinfectant
Do not share cups, dishes, eating utensils towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home.
After using these items, they should be washed thoroughly with soap and water.
Studios Cleaning Protocols:
Clorox disinfecting wipes (an EPA pre-approved product) should be made available and visible to wipe down high touch surfaces
EPA approved disinfectants have an approximate ‘10-minute kill time’ to effectively treat the virus on surfaces, meaning it is applied wet and left on the treated surface until it dries to be most effective.
High touch surfaces should be wiped and sanitized at least 3X daily
recommended before opening, mid- day and end of day
Main entry door handle
All door handles of commonly used areas
Drinking fountain activation levers
Water bottle filling station push button panel
Elevator call & control buttons
Counter surfaces
bathroom faucet handles and stall latches
All barre’s should be wiped and sanitized after each class
Consider placing CDC or State DOH posters for “Clean Hands” in all bathrooms
Have sanitizing gel dispensers at multiple locations throughout your building
PT Cleaning Protocol
Physical Therapy clinics should be diligent about maintaining their workspace clean and disinfected
High touch surfaces Pt facilities should be cleaned and disinfected at least 3x per day
see list above for high touch surfaces
Tables and equipment should be cleaned down after every patient
Pilates and Gyrotonic straps will be washed on a weekly basis or as needed
If appropriate ask your dancers/ clients to help you in your efforts by:
Using provided wipes/spray to clean down equipment before and after use (examples)
Reformers
Hand weights
Exercise balls
All gym equipment
Check your state Department of Health for informational papers that can be posted in your clinic for dancer/client reference.
If you have further questions regarding PT protocols please direct all questions to Dr. Kat Bower thedancedocs@gmail.com
We hope the information provided above as well as information from trusted health organizations such as your states Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) will help keep things in perspective. We will continue to monitor the latest guidelines and notifications from these organizations and update this post with any changes.
The Miami City Beach mayor recently wrote, “Panic should not be part of our playbook.” The Dance Docs are are taking this situation very seriously and moving forward with cautious optimism, with hopes that the dance world will be able to open their doors again soon. Our guidelines and protocols expressed above are to be used as precautionary measures as we do our part to help control spread and take care of each other. Your health and wellbeing is of utmost importance at this time. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out via e-mail thedancedocs@gmail.com or through the contact page.
In Health,
Dr. Kat PT