Beauty, nail salons allowed to reopen on June 1 under new rules
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard has confirmed beauty salons can reopen from June 1 but stated there will be a few new rules business owners and clients need to follow. This comes as only one new COVID-19 case was confirmed overnight.
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Only one new person contracted COVID-19 overnight — a woman who travelled from the UK to Sydney — as NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard confirmed beauty services were able to reopen on June 1.
The case was detected among in 6809 tests, down from almost 9000 the day before. Mr Hazzard said the testing number was less than he would have liked.
This comes as authorities are working to confirm whether a student at a secondary school has tested positive for the disease, following interim tests last night.
Mr Hazzard said the government is “working through whether that ends up being a final positive result or not”.
“We believe the student is already well,” he said.
BEAUTY SALONS TO OPEN ON JUNE 1
The unkempt — and, let’s face it, hairy — “iso look” is on its way out, with the NSW government giving beauticians and nail salons the green light to resume services on June 1.
However women and men wanting to book in for a treatment will be in for a new experience.
Gone are the magazines, books and iPads from waiting areas — too big a transmission risk — and crowded rooms will be a no-no, with no more than 10 clients at any one time.
While the strict COVIDSafe guidelines do not require facialists who work close to a client to wear masks — nor beauticians tending to eyebrows — there is a requirement for stepped-up sterilisation.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian said easing restrictions for beauty, nail, waxing and tanning salons would not come at the expense of public safety.
“The key is introducing practices to protect the safety of both customers and beauticians,” she said.
“It is vital staff and clients of beauty and nail salons abide by the one person-per-4sqm rule, with no more than 10 clients at any one time.”
NSW Health has compiled a checklist for the industry, with businesses seeking to open to first develop a safety plan that addresses how to minimise risk from COVID-19.
Staff and clients who are unwell must not be allowed on the premises, even if they have only mild symptoms. And records of attendance by staff, clients and contractors must be kept at the business.
The plan must detail a cleaning regimen, and include the removal of books, magazines and iPads from waiting areas to reduce the potential for infection. Seating in waiting areas must comply with physical distancing, while good hand hygiene facilities must be readily available, including at entry and exit.
Businesses must also designate a staff member responsible for ensuring staff and clients adhere to the rules. Staff will also be encouraged to sit at work stations at least 1.5m apart.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard urged people not to visit a salon if they were unwell, and cautioned the elderly and those with underlying health issues to take extra care.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said it was important that beauty therapists and nail salons followed their safety plan, especially given the close contact environment.
Businesses covered include beauty, nail, waxing and tanning salons.