Massage therapists want spas closed

THE CORONAVIRUS has masseuse operating in spas in the island’s hotels in panic mode.

Madge*, a 15-year veteran in the profession, cannot recall being this scared since entering the flourishing tourism sector.

However, owing to the fact that she and her colleagues are prohibited from using gloves when giving a massage, they have become scared.

“It is the most-requested service offered in the spa. Guests come from all over the world. The service has to be delivered with bare hands. There is no way of knowing who is carrying the virus.”

She is recommending that the spas be closed, similar to how schools have been closed.

In addition, she said a few of her teammates would prefer to stay home. “We want to go home, but unless the human resource department sends us, we have to stay put,” another aesthetician by the name of Angella* tells Hospitality Jamaica, adding that they would lose their jobs if they refused to carry out massages, because it will be considered the same as walking off the job.

Madge, the more senior of the two, related an experience she had last week.

“A guest came into the spa for a massage. She had a heavy cough. I went to management, who instructed her that she could not get the massage. In a massage, the client is breathing in your face. A facial is different because a magnifying glass separates the breathing.”

She said the guest became angry, stating in a mattera-fact tone, “I booked and paid for a package to include

‘The service has to be delivered with bare hands. There is no way of knowing who is carrying the virus.’

services from the spa. Now you are telling me I can’t get what I paid for.” As if that was not enough, Madge told

Hospitality Jamaica that all aspects of tourism are being affected negatively. During this period she would have an average of seven guests daily; however, she says she is now lucky if she gets three.

She gets paid on commission, so she is losing money. According to her, life is more important than money; so she is recommending the closure of all spas until the COVID-19 virus passes. * Name changed