COVID-19 Safety FAQ

Do you have a plan in place for when you are reopening your spa?

At elmspa, the safety and health of our guests and staff is of utmost importance, especially as a place that fosters and promotes well-being! It’s important to note that we remain diligent and have extensive precautions and procedures in place to ensure the health and safety of our guests and staff. The spa is following recommendations from the Ontario government, senior health officials and the CMTO and we have also implemented an extensive number of COVID-19 specific safety procedures and protocols.

What does the plan entail?

We’ve always been overly diligent with sanitization and cleaning, but we’ll be taking many extra precautions and have developed an extensive plan that addresses safety for our guests and staff from booking to check-out. We’ve taken our time to reopen with great care and intention as we put safety first. Some of the new protocols include but are not limited to:

• Mandatory contactless temperature checks for guests and staff upon entry into the spa.
• Guests and staff will be required to wear masks at all times.
• Mandatory Covid-19 screening questionnaire for both guests and staff.
• Plexiglass barriers at check-in and check-out and in our manicure and pedicure area (these services are currently unavailable).
• Operating under limited capacity.
• Contactless payment options available.
• Mandatory hand sanitization for guests and staff upon entering building.
• Increased frequency of sanitization of surfaces throughout the spa.
• Physical distancing indicators positioned throughout the spa and enforced by staff.
• Individually packaged refreshments will be available.
• Staff must complete daily COVID-19 attestation form

What will capacity be like?

The spa will be operating at reduced capacity for a period of time upon reopening.

What steps are being taken at check-in and check-out?

In addition to reduced capacity in each area, there are several protocols being put into place that are focused on our lobby in order to ensure the safety our guests. This includes:

• Mandatory hand sanitizing upon arrival.
• Completing the mandatory health history form and waiver online prior to arrival.
• Contactless payment options.
• Sneeze guards at counters.
• Physical distancing decals throughout the space.
• All guests and staff will be required to wear masks.
• Screening upon arrival including contactless temperature reading for both guests and staff.

Will the steam room be open?

No. At this time, both the sauna and the steam room will remain closed until it is deemed safe to reopen. We are closely following government guidelines.

What services will be available?

We will be offering limited services, for the time being. Our available services will include select massages and body treatments.

What are some of the tools and protective equipment that will be implemented?

A number of protocols will be implemented to ensure the safety of guests and staff in all spa operations, they include and are not limited to:

• Reception: Mandatory hand sanitizing upon arrival, completing the mandatory health history form online prior to arrival, contactless payment, sneeze guards at counters, physical distancing decals on the floor and a limit on capacity through strategic appointment scheduling, all staff wearing gloves and masks, screening upon arrival including contactless temperature reading.
• Retail area: Increase frequency of disinfecting hard surfaces, no testers, and physical distancing decals throughout.
• Services: Sneeze guards in place at every manicure and pedicure station, all guests and staff required to be wearing masks, visible hand washing before and after every service with guest in the room (thorough and up to the elbows), no blankets or face cradles, just single-use sheets that are thoroughly washed and sanitized after every guest (as always).
• Amenities: No access to steam room until further notice.
• Staff operations: Mandatory hand sanitization upon entering the building, and digital thermometer for daily temperature checks. Both guests and staff are to wash hands prior to every service. Staff are to wash hands and forearms up to elbows with soap and warm running water prior to every single service and verbally confirm once they have done so for the guest, in the service room. Face masks to be worn at all times. Break rooms have reduced capacity and sanitization wipes available in locker rooms.
• Communal areas: Increase the frequency of disinfecting hard surfaces, door handles, elevator buttons etc. Hand sanitizer will be available as always, and there will be physically distanced waiting areas with decals as markers. Self-served amenity stations will be removed, as will magazines. Individually packaged refreshments will be available.

What sanitization protocols will be in place before, during, and after services?

• Hand washing: Thorough hand washing with guest present in treatment room before/during every service. Warm water and soap, hands and forearms up to elbows. Confirm this step to guest.
• Hand sanitizer: Available liberally throughout the spa. Guests to sanitize as soon as they arrive in the building, and the same is true for staff.
• Treatment rooms: There will be no blankets or saddles on treatment tables, and all table coverings are single use and thoroughly sanitized/laundered during after every guest. RMTs and Aestheticians will follow proper hand washing procedures, including forearms and up to elbow in the presence of each guest, communicate they are doing so to the guest. Elements of each room will be sanitized after each guest, including door knobs and light/music switch. Hard surfaces including counters, stool and hot towel cabbie to be disinfected at least twice per day and when visible soiled. Hand soap and hand sanitizer available in each treatment room to sanitize as needed.
• Manicure and Pedicure (currently not available): Manicure and Pedicure stations to maintain physical distancing, while also installing sneeze guard plexiglass shields at all stations. Both guests and staff are to wear masks throughout the service, and every manicure table and pedicure chair will be disinfected after every guest. As always, towels and tools are disinfected, and most are single use. Hand sanitizer available at each station to use as needed.
• Laundry: Housekeeping will wear masks and disposable gloves when handling laundry. Hands will be washed with soap and water as soon as gloves are removed. The warmest appropriate water setting will be used and items thoroughly dried. Clothing hampers will be cleaned and disinfected.

I have a Gift card for Elmwood Spa. Can I use it at Elmspa?

Yes, you are able to use your Elmwood Spa gift card as a dollar-value amount towards services.

Will you be accepting cash tips?

We will be handling cash as little as possible. We recommend that you bring your own cash for tips.

What will my visit look like?