BEAUTY salons, gyms and hairdressers have closed during the third national lockdown, so you can’t go for a trim.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson introduced new lockdown restrictions in January amid rising coronavirus cases that are set to last until at least March 8.
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Mr Johnson told households to stay at home and schools have been closed to all pupils except for key workers and those with special needs.
A new mutant strain of the deadly coronavirus is being blamed for the national shutdown as it’s believed to be over 50% more infectious.
This means all non-essential shops and retailers have been forced to close and that unfortunately includes beauty salons, barbers and hairdressers.
Essential retailers, such as supermarkets, pharmacies and garden centres are allowed to stay open.
When will hairdressers and barbers open in the UK?
Non-essential shops across England could reopen soon if Covid rates keep tumbling.
Boris Johnson is putting the finishing touches to his roadmap out of lockdown, which he is due to unveil on February 22.
There is no specific dates set for when Britain will start to reopen again, apart from schools, which are due to open March 8.
Non-essential shops will follow after, and then pubs and restaurants will allowed to serve punters outside.
Hairdressers and barbers were forced to shut during the first lockdown in March 2020 and were among the last to reopen until July 2020.
There was a second four-week shutdown in November that lasted until December 2 and hairdressers and barbers were closed again for the third lockdown.
Although a route out of lockdown is due to be unveiled next week, the PM has said the reopening of the UK economy will be gradual, which is similar to how the first lockdown was lifted.
He said the plan will depend on “the continued success of the vaccination programme,” as well as the “capacity of the NHS” and the rate at which people are dying from coronavirus in the UK.
The road to freedom will take a “gradual and phased approach,” with the reopening of schools a priority, Mr Johnson told MPs.
It is unclear if the Tier system will be introduced after lockdown.
Under this, millions of businesses in Tier 4 areas had to close to tackle rising coronavirus cases, but those based in Tier 1, 2 and 3 could remain open.
Rules did vary for some parts of the country.
For example, in the old tier system, some Tier 3 areas like Liverpool were forced to shut their gyms, while other cities like Manchester were still allowed to keep fitness facilities open.
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How will social distancing work at the hairdressers?
Salons previously operated under social distancing measures, with those cutting your hair working on shift patterns to minimise contact with staff and customers.
When hairdressers reopen, it is likely that not every station in the salon will be used, with hairdressers working at every other station in a bid to maintain a two-metre distance between them.
The British Beauty Council recommends that staff wear gloves, masks and gowns, while customers will also likely have to wear masks and will not be able to have many belongings on them.
Meanwhile, the National Hair and Beauty Federation has asked hairdressers to keep salon chat to a minimum and avoid “face-to-face discussions with clients”.
It’s not thought customers will be forced to wear masks, although you can if you choose.
“When the customers comes in we will measure their temperature with a scanner and antibacterial gel will be offered along with two face masks (in case one gets dirty),” explains London salon owner Gennaro Dell’Aquila.
“Our staff will also wear a mask and gloves and will have their temperature measured 3 to 5 times per day.”
Sadly a cup of tea or coffee and a magazine is probably out of the question – customers may even be asked to leave their belongings in a locker.
List of businesses that can stay open in lockdown
Businesses providing essential services are allowed to stay open during the winter lockdown.
Shops that supply groceries, medicines and financial services can continue to serve customers, as long as they are Covid-secure.
The government has published the below list of businesses that can stay open, which is largely similar to Tier 4.
These include:
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What are the guidelines for hairdressers?
This is a stressful time for all self-employed workers and hairdressers are no different.
The government has pledged support to self-employed people in the United Kingdom as well as full-time workers.
Self-employed workers can read our guide on how to get financial help during this crisis.
Some workers will be eligible for the furlough scheme – if you are, you can read our guide on what the emergency measures mean for you.
This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
