Over the course of the last few days, Americans all across the nation have had to come to terms with the reality that our country is now in a state of national emergency due to the first global pandemic in over a century.  The coronavirus began in mid December over a continent away, and has steadily spread all across the world, including on our own beautiful shores here in Santa Cruz.

Despite our wonderful city being like its own oasis from the rest of the world, there is no place on earth that is entirely immune from pathogens. Santa Cruz is no different, and we at C.O.A.S.T. want to do everything in our power to ensure the health and well being of our clients and the greater community. Frequent hand washing and disinfecting surfaces has been our regular routine during normal daily operations, and will continue and be enhanced during this current situation. Additionally, we are offering at risk patients the option to be treated in a private area in one of the private treatment rooms. C.O.A.S.T. (really) is one of the safer places to exercise, not just during this pandemic, but anytime, due to our normal hygiene practices. 

Based on what we currently know about other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 is spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets among close contacts, especially in crowded areas.  In addition to taking precautions to avoid aerosolization (the production of airborne particles containing an infectious virus or bacteria), we must disinfect surfaces touched by infected people. Thus, in our physical therapy office, we are thinking holistically in terms of clinic disinfection and protection and taking every step we can take. 

First and foremost, we ask that patients stay at home if they are not feeling well, if they have a cough with a fever, or are showing any symptoms. If one is unsure, then we request that they wear a mask at our facility (which you must bring since we are unable to buy masks at this time). On our end, we commit to the frequency of cleaning all surfaces, maintain a safe avoidance of touching patients, commit to washing hands regularly and extensively, and to ensuring proper ventilation. Our gym is well ventilated with large sliding doors, plus ventilated skylights in all rooms.

We can’t emphasize enough how important it is to maintain a high level of hygiene with hand washing and to limit the touching of others and one’s one face. We will do the same, except for when necessary to touch patients, as these are all practices we have been doing for years – not just in the time of pandemic.

Here’s our list of top measures we are taking and advise to our patients to ensure your safety during this time:

1. Practice proper hand and wrist hygiene. 

2. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue. 

3. Stay home when you are sick. 

4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. 

5. Clean and Disinfect – we do so in the Clinic and we advise you to do so in your home

6. If you as the patient are the one coughing/sneezing, or exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, then please stay at home, contact your physician, and self isolate until you can get proper care.

Most importantly and above all, we at C.O.A.S.T. want you to know how much we love and cherish you, our patients, and that we are going to do whatever we can during this unprecedented time to keep us all safe and healthy. It’s been an entire century since the world has faced a global pandemic, and unlike one hundred years ago, we now have an entire field of medicine and technology to help us brave this storm. C.O.A.S.T. has been and will always remain on the cutting edge of our industry, and will do whatever it takes to protect our patients and protect ourselves and the greater community from this virus and whatever lies ahead.

We are in this together!  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at the office and reach out with your inquiry. We know this is a time of uncertainty, and we will do whatever we can to be as supportive as we can during this time.