conflicts occur, the stricter requirement will apply. FSMTB • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED GUIDELINES FOR PRACTICE WITH COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS • 5 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers extensive guidelines for healthcare professionals related to preventing disease and the spread of COVID-19.1 At the core of CDC recommendations for healthcare professionals is the concept of Standard Precautions. The CDC defines Standard Precautions as: “The minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient, in any setting where health care is delivered.” No matter the overall health picture of a client, massage professionals must apply minimum infection prevention practices with strict attention to protect the client and themselves from the spread of infection.2 The FSMTB Guidelines for Practice with COVID-19 Considerations references Standard Precautions and Transmission-Based Precautions, CDC protocols and adapts them to the specific practice environment of massage and bodywork. Whenever possible, this document reflects specific CDC recommendations to provide guidance on facility cleanliness and disinfection, use of PPEs, facility policies and procedures, and requirements for massage practitioner hygiene. See the Resources section for a complete list of the governmental guidelines that inform this document. In some cases, when appropriate, specific documents or research studies are referenced and listed in the References section. Please note that COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation. The FSMTB affirms the importance of regulated massage and bodywork professionals who are adequately informed to practice safely and competently. This document will be modified as necessary when further relevant information becomes available. We invite both your use of these Guidelines for Practice with COVID-19 Considerations and your ongoing interest in future versions of this essential resource. FSMTB • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED GUIDELINES FOR PRACTICE WITH COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS • 6 GUIDELINES FOR Facility Cleanliness, Disinfection, and Disease Prevention Infection control guidance from the CDC reminds healthcare providers that COVID-19 is spread primarily through personto-person contact. Infectious respiratory droplets, produced when someone with COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, or speaks, can land on the eyes, mouth, or nose of an uninfected person, or be inhaled by an uninfected person standing close by. Smaller droplets may hang in the air for a period of time, while heavier droplets fall to surfaces. An uninfected person might touch a contaminated surface and then touch their face, mouth, or nose giving the virus entry to the body. Protocols that reduce the dispersal of respiratory droplets and the regular disinfection of surfaces in a massage workplace help reduce the spread of COVID-19.3,4 Here, guidance is provided on cleaning and disinfecting products, cleaning and disinfection of different areas of a massage facility, methods that reduce the entry of COVID-19 to a facility, and the management of potentially contaminated linens. FSMTB • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED GUIDELINES FOR PRACTICE WITH COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS • 7 Cleaning and Disinfecting Products » Commercial or household-grade products may be used for routine cleaning such as washing surfaces with soap and water to remove visible soil, dusting, and cleaning glass surfaces with a glass cleaner. » Homemade cleaning products (e.g., vinegar and essential oils) are not approved cleaning agents or disinfectants. » Disinfectants registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must be used to disinfect surfaces that may become contaminated through touch or respiratory droplets during a workday. » Disinfect surfaces by applying an EPA-registered disinfectant to the surface, following label directions. If surfaces are dirty, they must first be cleaned to remove dirt or impurities, followed by disinfection. » Fabrics such as curtains or upholstery are disinfected with fabric-specific EPA-registered disinfectants. » Find an EPA-registered disinfectant specific for use against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) at www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/ list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov-2. » Follow the label directions for the use of all cleaning and disinfecting products and follow recommended contact times (amount of time a surface should be visibly wet with the product). » Some cleaning and disinfection products require ventilating the space by opening doors and windows and by running fans to reduce the airborne presence of cleaning chemicals. » Some cleaning and disinfection products require wearing cleaning gloves, eye protection, and a face mask. FSMTB • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED GUIDELINES FOR PRACTICE WITH COVID-19 CONSIDERATIONS • 8 Guidelines for Specific Facility Areas THE RECEPTION AREA » Declutter and remove items from the reception area that might become contaminated and require repeated disinfecting (e.g., magazines, pamphlets, knickknacks, candy bowls, the tea station, etc.). » Organize the reception area to promote physical distancing by removing chairs, spacing chairs 6 feet (2 meters) apart, placing tape in the shape of an X on areas where people