Dear friends,
We wanted to share with you the precautionary measures we're taking in our blending facility and in our stores to protect our team, guests, and products from contamination. Further, we are sharing information about risks with food products like tea and tips to boost immunity.
Read below 👇
Precautions we are taking in our blending facility:
- Our blending facility team wears face masks, hair covers, and gloves
- Team members are regularly washing hands and are educated on contamination risks
- Surfaces and equipment are regularly disinfected
- Team members experiencing any symptoms are asked to stay home
SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT TEA AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM CHINA?
In their Q&A on the virus, the CDC states that Coronaviruses are generally spread person-to-person and that there is a very low risk of spread from food products shipped over a period of days or weeks. We received our last tea shipment from China in August, before the outbreak, and all our tea was inspected by the FDA prior to delivery to our facility. The CDC, Harvard Health Publishing, and NPR all affirm that we should not be worried about receiving packages and products from China, as the survivability of Coronavirus on surfaces is poor. Further, risks associated with transmission through food and food products are low due to high temperatures of cooking (or steeping).
PRECAUTIONS WE'RE TAKING AT THE SHOP:
- Surfaces are being regularly disinfected (especially our tea bar)
- Team members are wearing gloves when handling products and washing hands regularly throughout the day
- Team members are educated on contamination risks
- Team members experiencing any symptoms are asked to stay home
- All OBTC locations are offering curbside pick up on phone orders for customers who want to avoid public spaces
As a small business, we have to consider both the safety and financial impact on our team: our top priority is minimizing risk of contamination in our buildings, as well as maintaining regular work hours for all OBTC employees. With school closures, many team members find themselves without childcare, so our goal is to accommodate parent's schedules to the best of our ability. We are lucky that OBTC is truly like a family and we have a built in support system in our co-workers.
HERE ARE A FEW SUGGESTIONS FROM HARVARD HEALTH PUBLISHING ABOUT HOW TO KEEP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONG:
- Don't smoke.
- Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
- Take a multivitamin if you suspect that you may not be getting all the nutrients you need through your diet.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Control your stress level.
- Control your blood pressure.
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
- Get enough sleep.
- Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and trying not to touch your hands to your face, since harmful germs can enter through your eyes, nose, and mouth.
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FEEL WELL DURING THIS STRESSFUL TIME?
We are drinking lots of tea, especially herbal blends like PEPPERMINT & LEMONGRASS that are anti-microbial, and blends like PU ERH that have a positive impact on immunity. We're taking this opportunity as an excuse to eat HONEY everyday and bathe ourselves in ESSENTIAL OILS. We're also taking steamy showers every morning, washing our hands regularly, and trying not to stress.
We're taking breaks from the bad news on our various devices with long walks in nature: if it's available to you, we encourage you to get a dose of sunshine and fresh air.
We are hoping the warmer weather will help pull us out of the grips of this pandemic and carry us into a happy and healthy summer. Thank you to all of you who continue to support local businesses during this time of economic hardship: we're truly grateful for your loyalty to our little tea co.
With love and gratitude,
The OBTC Team
CHECK OUT THESE SOURCES WE USED TO CREATE THIS EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION:
“2019-NCoV Frequently Asked Questions and Answers.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 3 Mar. 2020, www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html.
Aubrey, Allison. “No, You Won't Catch The New Coronavirus Via Packages Or Mail From China.” NPR, NPR, 3 Feb. 2020, www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/02/03/801620037/no-you-wont-catch-the-new-coronavirus-via-packages-or-mail-from-china.
Harvard Health Publishing. “Coronavirus Resource Center.” Harvard Health, www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/coronavirus-resource-center.
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