Coronavirus Latest: Gov. Hogan Allowing Salons, Barbers To Stay Open For Essential Workers Only
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Gov. Larry Hogan is now allowing the state's barbershops and salons to stay open to service essential personnel only during the coronavirus pandemic.
Last week, some licensed beauty professionals called on the governor to let them stay open, with safety precautions in place.
The guidance on the order now says that while barbershops and salons are required to generally stay closed, they can provide services to essential personnel under certain conditions.
The barber/salon may only provide services to customers on an appointment basis, and walk-ins are not allowed. They also can only have one customer in the establishment at a time.
They also can only service employees who are required by their employer to have certain "grooming standards," and the customer must have written documentation of the employer's standards. This could include a letter from the employer or a copy of the employer's policy establishing the standards.
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The new guidance also requires the customer and barber/salon staff to wear face coverings unless it would be impossible for the services to be performed with a face covering on.
Then, after each customer, the staff must clean and disinfect the area where they performed services in accordance with CDC and the Maryland Department of Health guidelines.
READ MORE: What does "essential" mean in Maryland under Gov. Hogan's stay-at-home executive order?
The barber/salon must also get phone contact information from each customer. If any staff test positive for COVID-19, they must tell all customers promptly who was serviced at their establishment in the 14-day period before the date the establishment staff gets test results.
So will this help barbers/salons across the state?
Barber Steven Rowell, the owner of Hairway to Steven in Towson, said it's a baby step in the right direction, but not nearly enough.
"It's better than nothing at all," he said. "Maybe I'll be able to cover my BG&E and telephone."
Neha Gupta is the owner of NEHA threading salon and spa in Pikesville. She said with the restrictions there won't be enough work to bring back her 17 employees.
"It is only a one-on-one basis and the business will be slow," Gupta said. "(Employees) are actually making more money staying at home through unemployment."
It's a similar story at Sam's Barbershop and Styling in Lutherville.
Current owner Mark McBain said if he brings back his 12 employees, even for a couple of hours a week, they'll lose their unemployment benefits.
Instead, McBain decided to man the shop on his own, giving haircuts to essential employees free of charge.
"I just felt like I needed to do something," McBain said.
Read the full interpretive guidance here.
The state has also set up a website to help small businesses, including those struggling with closures.
For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.
