People working with public take precautions as worries over virus intensify
The owner of a downtown salon and spa says he’s taking extra precautions to protect both staff and clients from possible infection by COVID-19, including pre-screening clients and limiting the number of people in his business.
“When people call in, the first question we ask them is, ‘Have you travelled?’” said Antoine Greige. “If they are sick, they can’t come in.”
Current provincial guidelines say anyone who has travelled outside of Canada should self isolate for 14 days upon return.
Greige said he is using “strong alcohol” disinfectants to clean workstations, sinks, door knobs and other common surfaces between clients at his Goyeau Avenue Antoine Greige Salon and Spa.
“I’m not booking like before. We used to book two, three clients. Now it’s one at a time,” said Greige, adding he is not wearing a mask while working.
“We’re not jamming in clients. If we happen to have two, I have a big salon so they’re far from each other, almost 10 feet or more,” he said. “Of course, I’m very concerned (about the virus). You look at what’s going on in the world. It’s not something to take lightly.”
But not all those employed in the personal service industry, where businesses are not currently required to shut down, are comfortable working so closely with the public.
“All of the girls are concerned,” said one Windsor spa worker. She did not want to give her name because her business is still open and she’s worried about employment repercussions.
“There’s no social distancing with our jobs. We have to touch people for our work. It goes against everything they’re telling us to do.”
When asked during a Thursday morning news conference whether workers at day spas, barbershops, nail or hair salons should be taking specific steps to protect themselves, Dr. Wajid Ahmed, medical officer of health at the Windsor-essex County Health Unit, said the Ministry of Health has offered “some guidance.”
“We are working with our internal staff to come up with a local recommendation based on some of those guidelines,” Ahmed said. “But the best thing is, obviously, even if you’re going to those places, all of these measures that you need to put in place such as social distancing and even timing your visits and screening people, those are still critical.
“But we will be coming up with more specific recommendations for those places.”
Ahmed said those recommendations will also apply to other “personal services settings,” such as community pharmacies, dental offices and chiropractic businesses.
Steve Gavrilos, pharmacist and owner of Eastown Pharmacy, said he has had difficulty obtaining necessary items to ensure the health and safety of himself and his staff after the recent hoarding of products by some of the public.
“Over the last couple of weeks, patients have been coming in and buying up all the masks, all the hand sanitizer, all the alcohol,” Gavrilos said. “I think the government needs to step up fast and provide self-protection products for community pharmacists and their staff ASAP if they’re going to flatten the curve and prevent the virus from spreading into the community.”
Gavrilos has written to bigcity mayors and the Ministry of Health asking for help in getting these supplies.
“Our suppliers don’t have any masks, don’t have any alcohol, don’t have any sanitizers and we’re front-line workers that are going to be exposed to the coronavirus,” he said. “I am on total alert with the coronavirus because you can get it even by speaking to somebody, they don’t even necessarily have to cough.
“They can’t let us fall through the cracks. I want (the government) to put us on the list as a priority.”
The local health unit lists the following recommendations on its website at wechu.org:
All residents returning from travel outside of Canada self-isolate for 14-days upon return, including essential workers returning from non-essential travel. Seniors and high-risk individuals should avoid any non-essential trips and stay home as much as possible. Commuters who cross to
Detroit for work purposes should consider work-from-home options with their employer where possible and regularly self-monitor for any symptoms including taking their temperature. Physicians should screen clients over the phone and refer as appropriate. Create an emergency-preparedness plan to ensure you have what you need in case of self-isolation. Wash hands with soap and water thoroughly and often. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue. Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands. Keep surfaces clean and disinfected. Stay home when you are sick; call your healthcare provider for advice.
There’s no social distancing with our jobs. We have to touch people for our work. It goes against everything they are telling us to do.”