Covid-19 Pandemic Policy

 

December 10, 2022

I was really hoping that September's update would indeed be the last, and that I would be taking this page down.  However, in light of hospitals being currently full beyond capacity with various respiratory patients, we are all re-visiting the wearing of masks.  I may choose to mask in certain situations, and if anyone of you prefers me masking, I will be happy to accomodate.  Besides covid, there is apparently a lot of nasty flu and RSV going around.  Some common sense distancing is always a good idea.  Thank you everyone for your continued understanding and cooperation!

 

Sept 30, 2022

Well, I don't want to jinx things, but it appears we may just be on the other side of this whole thing.  I've started to relax the masking.  Of course, I always have one in my pocket, so in certain situations, I'm happy to mask up.  If you'd prefer my wearing a mask, I'm more than happy to oblige.  Covid is still going around, the gift that keeps giving.  But thankfully it appears to be statistically far less serious or deadly.  It's been a long haul, and it has altered our "normal" for the forseeable future.  I'm just glad we got through it!  So, please let me know if you prefer me to wear a mask, even as I arrive at the front door.  Thank you folks, for all your cooperation during this period!  I HOPE this is the LAST update on this page! 

 

May 23, 2022

My policy is basically unchanged, but it was time to post an update.  I still remain masked at tunings.  It is a minor inconvenience and it just adds a layer of precaution.  Cases in the U.S. (and hospitalizations) have been slowly creeping up for several weeks now, and although New Mexico's curve is flatter than the national average, it seems many people are still catching covid.  So, I am choosing to remain masked for tuning visits, and life goes on.  Whether or not you are masked when I tune for you is completely up to you; either way is fine with me.

 

March 22, 2022

Hi folks---read the March 7 entry for my current policy.  The only addition I wanted to note here is that everyone is closely watching the BA.2 variant for a possible spike in the U.S. in coming weeks/months.  Based on European trends, it could happen.  So while I remain optimistic, and am not planning around it, I think we need to be prepared for the possibility.  Hang tough, Albuquerque.

 

March 7, 2022

The mask mandate in NM has been lifted.  Omicron cases are disappearing as fast as they appeared.  It feels like we are on the other side of this pandemic, finally.

 

For now, I remain masked for piano tunings.  It is out of an abundance of caution, and I am so used to wearing a mask that it is nearly effortless.  Throughout this pandemic, my goal has been to NOT be a carrier of covid, because going from house to house seemed a risky scenario.  The majority of spread of covid has been asymptomatic spreading---in other words, the person spreading it has no idea they are doing so.  And, when the CDC concluded (last July) that vaccinated people could still spread covid, I had already started masking up again, even before NM put the mask madate back in place in September.  I remain masked now for the same reason: my not wanting to be a spreader, unknowingly.

 

I think very shortly (in coming days/weeks), it will be apparent that the risk of this is so low as to be practically non-existant.  At that point, I will relax my own masking policy, and will post that on this page.  However, it will ALWAYS be up to you, the client.  If anyone prefers masking I will always be happy to do so.  Thank you all for your cooperation over the past 2 years!

 

January 22, 2022

We are currently in the middle of an unprecedented spike in covid cases.  Who could have predicted this even 6 months ago?

 

Fortunately this omicron variant is not as severe as its delta predecessor.  But the sheer numbers of cases (especially break-through cases!) make it still a serious concern.  My policy remains unchanged; I remain masked for the entirety of the tuning, most likely with a KN95, for the best protection of us both.  I am so grateful for the cooperation of everyone during this time!  I always appreciate when my customers take masking and distancing as seriously as I do.  Thank you for doing your part in slowing the spread.  It is the least we can do for our front-line workers who are exhausted and need our support and cooperation!

 

November 15, 2021

Well it appears that the land of enchantment is currently experiencing quite a spike in new cases and positivity rate, and the hospitals are all beyond capacity.  I don't know anyone who predicted this for our state, even doctors who are close friends.  New Mexico does indeed have a high rate of vaccination by national standards, and yet we are spiking. 

 

Fyi, I am fully vaccinated, have been since last winter, and got the Moderna booster about 2 weeks ago.  Nonetheless I remain vigilant about masking up.  It seems obvious to me that a lot of transmission of covid must be occurring amongst vaccinated folks who don't even realize it, and may have a more relaxed attitude about masking up.  Just because someone is vaxxed doesn't mean they can not carry it to others, and inviting anyone into your home even if vaccinated carries that risk!  Unknowingly passing covid between vaccinated people is not without consequences, not just because "breakthroughs" are happening, but because ultimately it will find its way to someone who is more vulnerable.  

 

In an effort to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, I am planning on remaining masked for the foreseeable future---not necessarily for me, but so that I am not unknowingly spreading anything in any way to others.  Whether or not you wear a mask when with me is up to you, but it is appreciated.  I think it just makes sense that we all do our part.  Masking feels like a minor inconvenience compared to the consequences of carelessness or apathy.

 

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

 

 

October 16, 2021

The indoor mask mandate has officially been extended until at least Nov. 12.  In accordance, and out of an abundance of caution, I continue to wear a mask when entering a home for a tuning.  If you are "hanging out" in the same room as me, your wearing a mask would be appreciated.  Thank you!

 

 

July 28, 2021

OK---we may not be out of the woods just yet.

 

I have made the decision to return to wearing a mask when tuning pianos in private homes.  This decision is largely based on two things.  First, there was a new statement by the CDC yesterday, recommending the wearing of face coverings for all people indoors, even vaccinated people like me.  This is because vaccinated folks can spread covid even when asymptomatic.  The second influencer is that the church I work at (St. John's UMC) had a "breakthrough" case last week in which a fully-vaccinated person was hospitalized and tested positive for covid.  While rare, it is an increasingly present event, and in this case, it happened in my circle.  So, out of compliance with scientific recommendations and an abundance of caution (not wanting to spread anything from house to house!) I will show up for your tuning wearing a mask.  Whether or not you choose to wear one is completely up to you, but I feel I must do this out of courtesy to my customers.  

 

June 24, 2021

New Mexico is preparing to officially "fully open."  The majority of my clients have informed me that they are vaccinated and we are resuming life "maskless".  So, this is my new default.  If you inform me that there are unvaccinated folks, or children, or for any other reason you would prefer masking, I'm happy to oblige.  Otherwise, I am assuming that it is ok for me to show up at your tuning without a mask.  Please let me know!  Thank you so much for all your understanding and cooperation over the past 15 months!

 

June 4, 2021

Benallilo is turquoise, along with the rest of the state, and we are rapidly approaching full-opening state-wide.  Yay!  Although we still don't quite have the full picture of what "re-entry" looks like, CDC guidelines now say that vaccinated folks (like me) can resume a "normal" level of activity and interaction.  Yet there are still some who are not in that category---children, those with special health issues (immune compromised, auto-immune considerations, and so on) as well as those who choose not to get vaccinated, or those who just prefer masks and distancing for now.  For this reason I will be showing up to piano tunings masked, and if you feel comfortable going mask-less and everyone in your household is vaccinated, only then will I assume I can go mask-less.  We'll get through this folks!  Just let me know your preference.

 

 

April 7, 2021

Bernallio is still yellow, very slowly heading toward green, but not quite there yet.  Schools are back to in-person.  Restaurants are open but it seems like people are not "flooding back."  It is a slow go!

 

As of Mar. 15, I am fully vaccinated.  Nonetheless I am adhering to mask precautions and would ask that you do the same.  We are getting there folks!  Just a little while longer if we stay the course.  Thanks for your cooperation over the last 13 months!  I'm glad I've been able to continue servicing your pianos in a safe manner, and will continue to do so.

 

 

Feb. 11, 2021

Yesterday, Bernalillo county went "yellow".  This is a good thing!  As long as we don't blow it!

 

Basically, all precautions I've had up to now are still in place.  I will be using mask-wearing, social distancing, and regular hand-sanitizing as measures for the safety of us both.  When entering your home to tune your instrument, I would request that we both be masked, and that if possible, we spend the majority of our time in separate rooms while I'm tuning your piano.  After I finish tuning, I will wipe down your piano keys (and anything else I may have touched while in your home) with clorox wipes.  

 

Thanks for continuing these safe practices!

 

 

Nov 21, 2020 UPDATE

Now that we are almost a week into the 2-week shelter-in-place "reset" order of Nov. 16, here are my thoughts.  I'm certainly hoping the strict restrictions are lifted on Nov. 30.  I am booking into the week of Dec. 1 and beyond.  I hope to be able to return to piano tunings, following my now-normal routine which includes being masked 100% of the time and having hand sanitizer and clorox wipes as part of my regular gear.

 

This time, when I return to tuning, I would like to try "contact-less" tuning as much as possible.  This is entirely possible with everyone's cooperation.  First of all, most of you have been greeting me at the door with a mask on.  While this has been appreciated in the past, I would now request it.  Second, many of you have observed distancing and have left the room while I was tuning, which I appreciate.  I now request that everyone observe this.  In this way, we can achieve as close to a contact-less experience as possible.  This protects you and me both.

 

So to recap simply, I'm requesting all tuning customers comply with masks and distancing for the hour or so I'm in their home---for the safety of both of us.  Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!  I look forward to returning to tuning shortly, and with your cooperation we can both be part of the solution and not the problem.

 

 

Nov 13, 2020

Starting Monday 11/16, there is a new public health order in the state of New Mexico, essentially locking down the state for all but essential businesses.  So for the next 2 weeks (at least), I will not be booking any piano tunings.  I will post here when I am able to resume tuning.  If you want to book a tentative date for sometime after Dec. 1 (projected easing of restrictions), go ahead and contact me using the contact form.  Hang in there New Mexico, we'll get through this.

 

 

May 1, 2020

Governor Grisham as officially started the process of loosening up some of the restrictions. I'm taking that as my cue to start tuning again.  So, if you were putting it off, throw me a contact form and let's get you in the book!  My plan for the forseeable future is to wear a face mask when coming to homes, and to use clorox wipes on keys before and after tuning.  I think we can do this safely!  Let's get you tuned up.  Also, I'll be calling folks who had contacted me for a tuning and were "on hold." 

 

Thank you all for your patience!  Let's hope we stay safe, healthy, and that soon we are all making music with/for one another again!

 

 

April 24, 2020

 

It appears that things might start to open up here in New Mexico mid-May.  With that in mind, I am compiling a list of email-backs (or call-backs) for when this happens (May 15 is my best guess).  If you'd like to have me get back to you on 5/15 to schedule a tuning, please send me an email using the contact form or by emailing me at jim~lksjdf~jimahrend.com. I look forward to getting back to again helping pianos sing sweetly!  I hope this finds all of you well and healthy.

 

 

March 31, 2020

 

Due to recent events in my own circle of famiy and acquaintances, I've decided to take a hiatus from tuning until we are on the other side of the virus threat.  I am committed to being part of the solution, not part of the problem, and taking a break from tuning is the only way I can guarantee that this is the case.

 

I apologize for not being able to service your piano for the next few weeks.  I will post an update when this changes.  If you can wait, wait.  If you do persue finding a tuner who is willing to come despite the current pandemic, please consider carefully who is coming and going in your home.

 

Thank you all for your understanding.  Let's all stay healthy and get on the other side of this thing!

 

Jim Ahrend