An update on our plans for the Covid19 virus in our community
*Read our blog about how you can personally stay prepared here.
*Update 3/25/20
The following sanitation procedures for local deliveries are being followed;
*Updates 3/24/20
Our commitment is to be able to continue to provide herbs, education and clinical services to our community, and we are taking precautions to be able to do so in the safest way for both the community and staff.
Our space is closed to the public, an we have switched our retail herb operation to pick-up and shipping only (onine store here). This switch has allowed us to maintain a space that has very few people in it, allowing for a high degree of safety and sanitation. Specifically:
Classes and events have been cancelled or are moving online
free online panel about COVID-19 Tuesday, March 24th at 6pm - Click HERE to view recording
Burlington Herb Clinic is offering consultations remotely.
Thank you for your understanding and your support!
*******************************************************
*Mid-March 2020
Given the recent arrival of the novel coronavirus (Covid19, also known as SARS-Cov-2) in the state of Vermont, we wanted to give you an update on measures we’re taking to reduce the spread of the illness and protect you, while continuing to make herbal medicine available for those who need it.
We have policies and training in place to ensure that our staff maintains a space that is clean, sanitized, and safe for our guests, clients, and customers. These include:
Additionally, we have moved our group meetings and administrative work off-site. Staff will work from home unless physically required to be in the store. We have extended these policies to allied practitioners who work in our clinic, and their staff.
We have an enhanced space-cleaning and sanitation policy in place. This includes additional levels of sanitation and decontamination beyond the regular cleaning we have always performed. These measures are performed regularly and include:
We are also asking our guests, customers, and clients to follow some basic procedures to curb any potential spread of Covid-19. These procedures are simple, and will make a difference. Clear signs are posted in the store to help us all remember. These procedures include:
Finally, to reduce the speed and spread of transmission, we are making some temporary changes to the experience at Railyard. These include:
Thank you for reading, and wishing you good health,
The staff at Railyard
*Update 3/25/20
The following sanitation procedures for local deliveries are being followed;
- All orders are carried into the car in a container, not left loose in the car.
- Staff disinfect hands before entering the car, and upon entering the car disinfect all areas of possible contact.
- Hands are disinfected before and after making a delivery, or deliveries are made with gloves.
- No buildings are entered by staff. Recipients are notified of the delivery and orders are left outside.
*Updates 3/24/20
Our commitment is to be able to continue to provide herbs, education and clinical services to our community, and we are taking precautions to be able to do so in the safest way for both the community and staff.
Our space is closed to the public, an we have switched our retail herb operation to pick-up and shipping only (onine store here). This switch has allowed us to maintain a space that has very few people in it, allowing for a high degree of safety and sanitation. Specifically:
- Only one staff member is filling orders at a time, and almost all of the time there will only be one apothecary staff person in the space at all
- All of the clinical practices have switched to remote consultations, and almost all of the clinicians are working from home
- Herb orders are being filled while the staff-member wears gloves and a face-mask
- We have sanitation protocols for receiving deliveries coming into the space
- We are continuing to follow the below sanitation procedures that still apply
Classes and events have been cancelled or are moving online
free online panel about COVID-19 Tuesday, March 24th at 6pm - Click HERE to view recording
Burlington Herb Clinic is offering consultations remotely.
Thank you for your understanding and your support!
*******************************************************
*Mid-March 2020
Given the recent arrival of the novel coronavirus (Covid19, also known as SARS-Cov-2) in the state of Vermont, we wanted to give you an update on measures we’re taking to reduce the spread of the illness and protect you, while continuing to make herbal medicine available for those who need it.
We have policies and training in place to ensure that our staff maintains a space that is clean, sanitized, and safe for our guests, clients, and customers. These include:
- Mandatory handwashing and sanitizer use upon entering Railyard;
- Clear training as to Covid19 symptoms, and a requirement to stay home and contact healthcare providers immediately if any illness is suspected in a staff member’s household;
- Prohibition on bringing unnecessary items into Railyard, and procedures to sanitize essential items (phones, laptops) that are brought into the space;
- Training on avoiding hand-to-face contact, and procedures for handwashing after touching the face;
- A requirement for using gloves when counting cash, and handwashing after handling cash.
Additionally, we have moved our group meetings and administrative work off-site. Staff will work from home unless physically required to be in the store. We have extended these policies to allied practitioners who work in our clinic, and their staff.
We have an enhanced space-cleaning and sanitation policy in place. This includes additional levels of sanitation and decontamination beyond the regular cleaning we have always performed. These measures are performed regularly and include:
- Regular use of sanitizer (60% ethanol solution) on high-touch areas: doorknobs, registers, counter surfaces, light switches and music equipment, bathrooms;
- Switching to disposable (compostable) paper towels in the restroom;
- Sanitation of credit/debit cards at the point of sale, and a request to please avoid using cash if possible
- Between-client sanitation procedures for doors, switches, and chairs in the clinic.
- Using 60% ethanol to regularly sanitize common eating and food storage areas for staff.
We are also asking our guests, customers, and clients to follow some basic procedures to curb any potential spread of Covid-19. These procedures are simple, and will make a difference. Clear signs are posted in the store to help us all remember. These procedures include:
- Hand sanitizer station at the front door. Please apply sanitizer to your hands before walking to the shelves, counter, or clinic – it will help keep our space safe and available for more vulnerable folks;
- A request to avoid handling products, books, and other items in the retail space. The less items we touch, the less chance of contamination;
- A request to use debit or credit cards for purchases, rather than cash (which is often a hidden reservoir of microbes)
- A strong request to NOT COME IN to Railyard if you are showing signs of illness, including fever, cough, fatigue, or sore throat. Give us a call before coming in if you are concerned or have questions.
Finally, to reduce the speed and spread of transmission, we are making some temporary changes to the experience at Railyard. These include:
- We will not have tea available for guest, customers and clients. Fresh spring water will still be available, but we will use disposable, compostable paper cups for drinking to minimize the movement of potentially contaminated cups through the space.
- We are temporarily pausing the refill of customer jars and bags. We hope you understand that, in the current environment, we cannot take the risk of bringing a potentially contaminated container behind the counter where the herbs are stored. Please leave your refillable containers at home for now.
- We are canceling all classes and events with an attendance greater than 10 people (and moving most of the rest to online classes). If you are coming to Railyard for a small-group class, you will be asked to follow the basic guest safety procedures listed above, and asked not to attend if you are showing any sign of illness, or if you have been in recent contact with anyone showing signs of illness.
- Resources on proper handwashing technique
- Recipes for home-made hand sanitizer
- Suggestions for supportive herbs and mushrooms
- Hand sanitizer (either 60% ethanol and aloe, or 0.25% thymol, both EPA/FDA approved for Covid19) available to Railyard customers at cost
Thank you for reading, and wishing you good health,
The staff at Railyard