ADDED issues circular allowing the reopening of massage and oriental bath centres in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has issued a new circular which allows owners and managers of massage and oriental bath centres Abu Dhabi to resume their activities after temporary closure due to efforts to curb the spread of  ‘COVID-19’. The circular urges owners to follow the instructions, guidelines, and precautionary measures issued by the Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Committee to curb the spread of COVID-19.

 

H.E. Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, ADDED’s Undersecretary said that the new circular has been issued in line with ADDED’s efforts to resume all economic activities in Abu Dhabi while ensuring that regulations and instructions are being followed in coordination with the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Committee, noting that the set measures are in accordance with the activity type to ensure they contribute to protecting the health and safety of visitors and the Abu Dhabi community.

 

H.E. Al Balooshi further explained that centres’ staff are subject to periodic COVID-19 testing to ensure that they are free from infection, and regular sterilization and other hygiene procedures must be done after each use of the facility, including social distancing between visitors, among other instructions previously announced for the reopening of other commercial activities.

 

For increased safety, ADDED’s circular stated that COVID-19 tests should be conducted for all staff along with the regular checking of body temperature during the day. There also has to be a training for them in the implementation of the precautionary measures such as wearing face masks and gloves at all times and replacing them periodically during the day. The workers in the massage rooms are requested to wear a protective face shield apart from the face mask.

 

According to the circular, providing services without a prior appointment by visitors are prohibited and waiting rooms must be closed. Customers not wearing a face mask should not be allowed to enter and thermal cameras can be installed at the centres’ main entrances or manual temperature check are allowed. There also must be posters at the entrances to serve as reminder on preventive measures, personal hygiene, social distancing, and precautions that employees and visitors must apply. Furthermore, consumers showing any COVID-19 symptom must not be allowed to enter the facility while taking into account social distancing by putting the appropriate stickers on the floor.

 

It also highlighted the importance of intensive and regular sterilization of centres during the day, regular hand washing by all staff, strict hygiene checks, disinfecting surfaces and all places of contact such as payment counters. It also encourages the use of electronic payment methods, provision of sterilizers at entrances and payment points, and availability of trash containers for medical waste (masks, gloves, etc…) that must be emptied frequently. There also has to be a dedicated cleaner for toilets to ensure they are sterilized after each customer use.

 

Other important procedures required for massage and oriental bath centres include providing single use towels, sanitize changing room, and proper ventilation within the facility. Centres must maintain a maximum of 50 per cent humidity level inside the facility while ensuring that the service is not provided to people suffering from skin diseases.

 

Among other set conditions include implementing the highest cleaning, sterilization and drying standards before and after providing the service, particularly in bathing areas and bathroom ceilings, which often cause diseases and unpleasant odours. The circular also banned the presence of more than one customer in multiple bathrooms while bath scrubs and soaps must be for single-use only for each customer. All other materials used by a customer for the oriental bath must be disposed and must never be used for another customer.