ICYMI: Full Body Massage Is Now Allowed in GCQ Areas

Here's good news for those yearning to have a full body massage—especially when massage tools just don't cut it: You can now head over to your favorite spa as the Department of Trade and Industry approved offering such services in general community quarantine and modified general community quarantine areas.

Effective November 1, establishments offering personal care and aesthetic procedures can also provide full body massage services to their clients, according to DTI's Memorandum Circular No. 20-57.

"It has been approved that personal care services, including full body massage, shall be allowed to increase their operating capacity, subject to the minimum public health and safety protocols..." the memorandum read.

For businesses in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas, spas and parlors can operate up to 75% of their capacity with full body massage places allowed to run at 30% of their venue capacity.

The policy is more relaxed for parlors and spas in modified GCQ areas since they can operate at full capacity, with full body massage places allowed to run at half of the venue's capacity.

Only Metro Manila, Batangas, Iloilo, Tacloban, Bacolod, Iligan, and Lanao Del Sur are under GCQ for the month of November. The rest of the Philippines is under MGCQ.

The DTI also ordered businesses offering full body massage services to adhere to the following mandatory health and safety protocols:

1. Guidelines on the practice of proper respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette must always be implemented.
2. Massage parlors are discouraged from allowing clients who fall under population groups whose movements are restricted based on community quarantine.
3. Implement strict guidelines for the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes or vaping products within the establishments and its surrounding areas. If smoking/vaping is absolutely unavoidable, smokers/vapers must use the designated smoking areas. Cigarette butts must be placed in designated receptacles and hands must washed or sanitized before and after smoking.
4. Home service arrangements are still subject to the same cleanliness, preventive, and disinfection protocols.
5. Ensure that staff members avoid congregating and gathering in a single area especially during breaks and/or lunchtime. Place markers and signages to maintain physical distancing where possible.
6. Staff must disinfect before and after each appointment.
7. Clothes, linen towels must be laundered (or disposed properly if not washable) after each use.
8. Provision of PPE and other medical-grade protective apparel to staff.

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Source: Spot PH