Ten ways our world will have changed after lockdown
:: Ten ways that our world will have changed
Hairdressers and beauty
Hair dye remains out of stock online and there’s been a run on clippers. After weeks of cack-handed home styling or just sheer grooming negligence, many of us will be rushing back to the socially distanced arms of our hairdressers as soon as salons reopen.
Lisa Eccles, vice-president of the Irish Hairdressers Federation, said people are already trying to book appointments. Her main concern is that she won’t be able to work at the same capacity she did before.
“We’re probably going to run a longer day, 9am-9pm, in two split shifts,” she said. “The whole idea is that two teams of staff will never mix.”
She said hairdressers don’t have the option to socially distance from clients, so people will be expected to come to salons on their own.
There will be no flipping through magazines in the waiting area – people will wait outside until the hairdresser is ready for them.
Beauty salons are considering perspex screens and there is likely to be a ban on walkins. Andrea Horan, owner of Tropical Popical nail salon in Dublin, said her salon will ask every customer to wash their hands.
“If we see you touching your face we’ll be spraying hygiene spray on your hands, even during a treatment,” she said.
Her staff will wear masks and gloves, towels in bathrooms will be replaced with disposables and all instruments will be sterilised.
Gyms
Access to gyms has been sorely missed, based on the high demand for fitness classes on Zoom and an increase in online orders for home weights.
Ireland Active, the national association for the leisure, health and fitness sector, has warned it will be commercially difficult for a lot of gyms to reopen at a reduced capacity without government support.
Its chief executive, Conn McCluskey, said gyms here could be forced to follow similar rules to those which have recently reopened in other parts of Europe – “on a restricted basis, with one person for every 10sqm and two metres social distancing. The reduced capacity may result in members having to book time slots for access,” he said.
“Touch points” where the virus could spread, will have to be reduced, disinfectant will be available for machines and group classes will have to have smaller numbers.
Pubs
More than half of pubs surveyed by the Licensed Vintners Association have said they believe they could go out of business if they are not allowed to open until 2021.
Publicans have said they would be willing to open with restricted capacity and social distancing rules, amid concerns they could be one of the last businesses to reopen.
There would be minimal contact between punters and the bar, and household groups could be required to stay together and not mix.
Restaurants
Restaurants and cafés could reopen by the middle of the summer, but are already anxious about how they would operate on a reduced capacity.
It is likely many restaurants which recently moved to UberEats and Deliveroo will remain on the delivery apps.
More high-end restaurants are offering customers contact-free deliveries. These are likely to remain in place before restaurants can operate with full capacity again.
Public transport
Public transport has been running a reduced service throughout the pandemic, with many seats on the bus, Luas, train and Dart blocked off to try to maintain social distancing.
The National Transport Authority said public transport operators “will continue to provide services in line with guidance provided by the health authorities and the Government”.
There has not been any clarity on how services such as the Luas, which can run at full capacity during normal rush hour, will manage social distancing as more people return to work.
In cities, the reduction in traffic has been an opportunity for communities to try to zone off “car-free” areas to help pedestrians and cyclists to social distance. James Geoghegan, a Fine Gael councillor for Dublin Bay South, surveyed 600 residents in Sandymount and found 87pc in favour of such a measure.
“It’s no longer about pitting car drivers against pedestrians or cyclists, it’s about helping get businesses going again and maintaining social distancing,” he said.
Mass
In the days before the lockdown, the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin had signs up pleading with parishioners to keep to three people per pew, and have no more than 100 people inside the church at one time. These kinds of measures are likely to remain in churches when restrictions are relaxed.
The Irish Catholic Bishops said they are waiting for the Government to clarify if and when Mass can take place in public again. While a number of parishes have embraced online Masses, this has been a challenge in parishes where there is poor broadband.
When churches do reopen, it is likely that sharing the sign of peace will initially be restricted as it was before the lockdown.
Holidays
There is expected to be an increase in demand for “staycations” in the late summer and early autumn to make up for planned holidays which have been scuppered by Covid-19.
Irish hotels are already planning how they can minimise physical contact between guests and their staff.
P3, a Dublin company which creates check-in and checkout software, said it is seeing increased demand from Irish and UK hotels which want guests to be able to arrive and leave without having to talk to anyone at the front desk.
“Customers are calling us to ask how soon [the software] can be ready. One UK hotel group wants to ensure the online check-in and check-out software is live before they reopen after the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted. They’ve realised it’s going to assist with social distancing requirements in the hotel lobby,” said Phelim Pekaar, chief executive of P3.
Spa treatments may be limited or restricted based on extra hygiene requirements.
Arts and entertainment
Large cinema chains were leaving every second seat empty in the days before they shut for Covid-19. Many are preparing to keep those measures in place once restrictions are relaxed, depending on Government guidelines.
Theatres, which may have already been struggling financially before the lockdown, could be forced to consider if it makes economic sense to put on performances with limited audience numbers may have.
The Abbey Theatre said its focus is on online performances like ‘Dear Ireland’, a production involving 50 artists which it started to stream this week. “For us, the ‘Dear Ireland’ project enables us to support freelance artists, creatively capture this historic moment and to deliver great art and entertainment to our audiences at home,” said the theatre’s Róisín McGann.
Shopping
Closure of fitting rooms is likely, based on the response of high street chains in other European countries. H&M, which also owns & Other Stories and Cos, announced last month it was closing its fitting rooms in Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
It is understood Penneys is doing a “huge” amount of background work to see how it would open while maintaining social distancing. However, models that large retail shops are using can change from week to week, depending on government advice.
Festivals and gigs
The Irish summer festival calendar has been demolished with Electric Picnic, Body and Soul, Life and All Together Now all cancelled. Many gigs taking place later in the year, when lockdown restrictions will hopefully be relaxed, will rely on the capacity of venues.
The largest winter festival in Ireland is Other Voices, which takes place in pubs across Dingle in December. Its future is uncertain.
“Like most festival and events companies we don’t really know right now what our future live events will look like, and are just waiting until we have more information,” said the festival’s Ellie King.