Huffington Post: Is it safe to get a massage during the COVID-19 pandemic? Experts weigh in
UC expert says yes, if both parties take the proper precautions
To ease stress during the pandemic, some people turn to massages to relieve tension. But, as is the case with many situations since COVID-19 hit, the question is whether or not that is safe behavior.
The Huffington Post turned to some experts, including Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the UC Division of Infectious Diseases to weigh in on the topic.
Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the UC Division of Infectious Diseases. Photo/Joe Fuqua II/UC Creative + Brand
Fichtenbaum says yes, it's probably safe to go to a spa for a massage if both parties are practicing the appropriate safety precautions.
You should wear a mask at all times during your massage, even when you’re facing down, Fichtenbaum said. Your therapist should be wearing one too.
“There’s all this rhetoric about masks right now, and it’s really confusing to people — people think they’re wearing a mask to protect themselves, so they say, ‘Well, I’ll take my chances,’” he said. “But that’s not how we should be looking at this. You’re wearing a mask in large part to protect others, like your massage therapist, from you. That’s the point in all of us doing this together.”
Lead image: Unsplash
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To ease stress from the pandemic, so people are turning to massages as a way to relieve tension. But like in a lot of situations since COVID-19 hit earlier this year, the question is whether or not that is a safe behavior.
The Huffington Post asked some experts, including Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the UC Division of Infectious Diseases to weigh in on the topic.
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