Gradual reopening of barbershops, salons starts June 7

Barbershops and salons are allowed to gradually reopen at 30 percent operating capacity starting June 7 under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and 50 percent capacity under a modified GCQ but strictly for haircut services only.

Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon M. Lopez said that the reconsideration by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) for the earlier reopening of barbershops and salons was also in recognition of the need to start bringing back the jobs of the estimated 400,000 workers in over 35,000 shops in the industry.

Lopez stressed that these establishment should follow first the minimum health protocol standards before reopening.

“There will be no need for accreditation to remove any bureaucracy in opening, but there will be operations audit to be done, and non-compliant shops

will be closed down until they correct the deficiencies,” Lopez said, adding there is no need even for DTI permit to reopen.

The DTI also released the guidelines to follow and implement in all barbershops and salons before these establishments resume operations.

These establishments are required to post information at the entrance and other prominent or conspicuous areas about:

1. mandatory wearing of face masks at all times 2. social distancing protocols 3. regular sanitation schedule and procedures (a 10-minute interval for sanitation in between clients is required)

4. availability of alternative methods of payment, if applicable

5. availability of alternative methods of scheduling appointments (e.g., online, text messaging system) These establishments are also required to put in place:

1. foot bath with disinfectant 2. thermal scanner 3. alcohol that can be easily sprayed on the clients’ hands 4. health checklist to be distributed to all customers Personal effects of clients, including bags, jackets, and gadgets should be disinfected and deposited in secured sanitary plastic bags. Face shields must be distributed to clients if they availed themselves of shampoo services.

Salon chairs must be at one meter apart on all sides with visible floor markings. Establishments must also have proper ventilation and personal effects of personnel should be placed in plastic bags stored in an area inaccessible to clients.

Face masks must be readily available for sale, or otherwise, to clients. Sanitation equipment and tools must be visible to clients while sterilization of workstation must be undertaken before and after each service.

Pieces of furniture that are made of porous materials must be covered in plastic for ease of sanitation. Establishments are ordered to strictly

use disposable-only menus, reading materials, and magazines.

For employees in these establishments, the DTI guidelines ordered personnel with COVID-19 symptoms or with exposure to COVID-19 patients not to work. They are not allowed to wear pieces of jewelry and are required to observe personal engine, including clipped fingernails.

Employees must also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including, but not limited to face mask, face shield, eye glasses, gloves, and hair caps. They must also wear closed shoes and must observe proper disposal of single-use supplies such as cotton balls, popsicle sticks, and tissue.

The DTI also requires mandatory declaration of health and whereabouts prior to every duty in case contact tracing becomes necessary, as well as frequent handwashing/ sanitizing.

To avoid physical contact, personnel are provided with small trays for accepting cash payments. There must also be regular sanitation of high-contact areas and surfaces (e.g., pens used for filling out forms, door handles, common tables).