Covid has been a long, ugly, sad road so far, but it may finally be ending. The graphs are trending the right way, people are eager to get back to their lives, the economy is ready to re-start, and summer’s here… it looks like the US is coming out of our Covid lockdown! Some people are past ready to ditch their masks (for good reasons and bad) but others are still a little hesitant about loosening up in a world that still has an unpredictable pathogen in it. Businesses have to decide how to safely reopen and how to accommodate peoples’ concerns across the spectrum. As an ‘essential business’ open since the start of the pandemic, we had to make deep changes in our business to make it safer and easier for you to deal with us. We’re eager to see some of them go away but we found others were actually improvements. Here’s an update on what we’re changing back… and what we’re keeping.
Masks Are No Longer Required In Our Office!
Effective June 30, masking and social distancing requirements are ended for Oregon businesses.
As of June 30, you won’t be required to wear a mask in our office. If you’d still prefer to have one we have free masks waiting.
We’re Ending ‘Will Wait’ Appointments And Closing Our Waiting Room
When Covid closed our Waiting Room we had to pause ‘will wait’ appointments as well. This was awkward for a while, but we found it actually improved the service we were able to provide and it’s one of the Covid changes we plan to keep. Going forward, we will no longer offer ‘will wait’ appointments (except minor services like bulb changes or DEQ tests).
We’ll Keep Opening At 8AM
We changed from 7a-6p to 8a-6p at the start of the crisis, and it’s worked out pretty well. We’ll keep that in place for the foreseeable future, so our new PERMANENT hours are 8a-6p M-F, and 10a-1p on Saturday for Pickup and Dropoff.
The Lobby Will Change A Little Bit
Our attempts at Lobby crowd control included pylons and guide tape, but they only seemed confusing. They’ll disappear soon, but please maintain social distance in our lobby for the next several months.
On the other hand, the clear shields at the front desk will probably help cut down on cold and flu post-Covid, free hand sanitizer at the front counter seemed like a good idea, and the HEPA air filter worked out well too. We’ll be keeping these for your health and ours.
We’ll Still Do Post-Service Sanitization
We’ll continue our Post-Service Sanitization procedures for a while to come. That means aside from checking fluids, pressures, wipers, and a double-check of the work we did, we’ll use sanitizer on all the interior surfaces touched during your service.
If You’re Still Covid-Skittish…
If there’s any reason you aren’t quite ready to jump back into normality like nothing ever happened, we don’t want to force you. You can still get Non-Contact service at our shop or even Pickup and Dropoff Service at your home or office. If you have ANY CONCERNS AT ALL, just ask your Service Advisor and we’ll do everything we can to make you feel as comfortable and safe as possible in working with us.
That’s what we know for now, but if there’s anything to be learned from the Covid Crisis it’s that things can change instantly. For Covid and for anything else, our policies are driven by concern for our clients and the quality and safety of your experience with us. Please, tell us about any questions, comments, or concerns you have! Our Service Advisors are happy to talk with you in person or by phone at 503-230-2300, or you can reach our Outreach Coordinator Charles Letherwood at Charles@TomDwyer.com. We hope to hear from you, and we’ll keep you informed as things inevitably change in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Digging Deeper…
Coronavirus FAQ: I’m Vaccinated And Confused. Do I Need To Mask Up Or Not? Sheila Mulrooney Eldred on NPR, Jun 2021
5 charts that show where we are in the pandemic, PBS NewsHour, Jun 2021
COVID-19 and Oregon OSHA, Oregon OSHA-Covid website, updated constantly.
CDC COVID Data Tracker, updated daily
Tracking COVID-19 vaccine distribution by state: How many people have been vaccinated in the US?, Janie Haseman on USA Today, June 2021
Biden’s vaccine goal of 70% by July 4 could pass us by, and we have no one to blame but ourselves, Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, Baltimore Sun, Jun 2021
Daily update: Will America meet Biden’s July 4 vaccine goals? Janie Haseman on USA Today, June 2021
States ranked by percentage of population fully vaccinated: June 16, Katie Adams in Becker’s Hospital Review, Jun 2021
U.S. COVID-19 vaccine tracker: See your state’s progress, Mayo Clinic
Our Tom Dwyer Covid Coverage…
Tom Dwyer Coronavirus Response, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Mar-Oct 2020
To Mask Or Not To Mask: How the Mask debate is playing out here at our shop, Charles Letherwood for Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Aug 2020
Everyone’s Keynesian in a foxhole- So join us in learning what “Keynesian” means. Charles Letherwood for Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, May 2020
Corollavirus is coming! YOU’RE ready for the pandemic, but what about your vehicles? Charles Letherwood for Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Mar 2020
Tom’s Tidbits- Death by Denial, Tom’s Tidbits, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Nov 2020
Tom’s Tidbits- We are OPEN during this Crisis, Tom’s Tidbits, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Mar 2020
Tom’s Tidbits- THIS… this is what government is SUPPOSED to do! Tom’s Tidbits, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, May 2020
Shop Talk- Our response to a client who asked us to contact the Governor about masks, Shop Talk, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, May 2020
Health Notes- Cure ‘em all and let God sort ‘em out, Charles Letherwood for Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Jun 2020
Health Notes- Real facts on Coronavirus, Health Notes, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Mar 2020
Health Notes- The search for a vaccine against EVERYTHING, Health Notes, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Mar 2021
Health Notes: How Coronavirus kills, Health Notes, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, May 2020
News To Make You Furious- There WAS a plan. They just ignored it. News To Make You Furious, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Jun 2020
News To Make You Furious- Prostituting God for fun, plague, and profit, News To Make You Furious, Tom Dwyer Automotive Services, Mar 2020
