New regulations to raise eyebrows

Government has released the rules for personal care services – including hair salons, tattoo parlours and make-up artists – who may officially start working again as of last night.

After more than three months, the following service providers can officially return to work, according to the Government Gazette published yesterday: Hairdressing; Barbering;

Nail and toe treatment; Facial treatment and make-up;

Body massage; and Tattooing and body piercing. The rules demand strict hygiene protocols, and – once again – there are some strange provisions. The expected requirements for social distancing and face masks and gloves, which must be changed after every customer, are in place – as well as a requirement for partitioning between work stations which are less than 1,5 metres apart.

Service providers must wear aprons, which must be washed after each customer.

One of the rules which is bound to raise eyebrows is that massage services may resume, but hairdressers who wash their customers’ hair must ensure “no unnecessary touching and no scalp, neck, shoulders and arms massages at the basin” – and they must “set time limits for each treatment to minimise unnecessary interactions with [clients]”.

Though not banned from returning to work, employees older than 60 or those with comorbidities “must be discouraged from working”, and anyone who has flu-like symptoms must not be allowed to work or to be treated.

Businesses must also maintain a register of all customers.