05/13/2020
Hey all, hope you are staying healthy and responsible out there!
These Corona days are fraught with confusion and frustration for all of us on planet Earth right now. I know everyone, much like myself, are anxious to get back to work and finally return to some normalcy. Despite the fact that many states and businesses are racing to reopen, we still face uncertainty with this virus and shortages of desperately needed PPE and medical supplies for essential workers. After 13 years of tattooing and training in cross contamination prevention, my re-opening/grand opening assessment follows this logic:
There are no reasonable, cost effective products or procedures that offer adequate protection for a tattoo establishment to guarantee safety for artists or clients during the normal course of business.
Those items that we could theoretically utilize to provide minimal protection for ourselves are desperately needed for actual medical professionals and are in short supply. Gloves, masks, disinfectant and cleansers should be directed to the front lines of this crisis.
The lack of available and reliable tests means that those re-entering the world at large are doing so completely blind. The lack of concrete knowledge about this virus and it's transmission leaves us more vulnerable now than most are willing to admit. I can't in good conscience put my family or any other's further into harm's way for the sake of a tattoo or a few dollars in my pocket. With all that said, regardless of what criteria the State, Health Dept or Federal guidelines publish and deem to be "safe" for re-opening for business, Oddfellow Arms will remain closed until National reporting numbers show new daily infection numbers under triple digits for a period of two weeks.
In the meantime, over at Dapper Dan from Tattooland I am available for consultations, commissions and your graphic design needs!
Please take care of each other and look out for those who can't look out for themselves. Stay safe! š
