An operational guideline introducing the procedure to be adopted by barber shops and salons that are serving customers during the outbreak of COVID-19 has been issued.

Issuing the guideline, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe stated that this guideline is an addendum to the main guideline – “Interim Operational Guidelines on Preparedness and Response for COVID-19 outbreak for Work Settings” – which was published on April 27 by the Ministry of Health.

The purpose of the new guideline is to facilitate limited activities of a salon or barber shops, considering its service as a public need during the coronavirus outbreak, Dr. Jasinghe said.

Accordingly, cutting/trimming, dyeing of hair, manicure and pedicure and waxing of arms and legs will be the only services that the salons and barber shops are allowed to render.

Since, the physical distance between the barber/dresser cannot be maintained in this work setting, the Health Ministry has introduced special measures to be adopted.

Barber/dresser is mandated to wear a mask and a goggle/eye shield when attending to customers.

A foot-operated bin for discarding the used masks and tissues need to be placed at the shop.

The barbers and dressers also need to ensure that at least 1-metre distance is maintained with the customers, except during the procedure.

The number of customers entering the building and in the waiting area should be limited according to the space available.

The guideline also emphasized that magazines, newspapers, service menus and other unnecessary items should be removed.

Barber or the dresser is advised to attend to the customer from behind and sides and is urged not to have a face-to-face encounter.

The guideline requires the barbers and dressers to wash all towels and capes after each use and to avoid sharing equipment and tools among them.

It does not recommend shaving beards and moustaches. In the meantime, the barbers and dressers are advised not to reuse razor blades.

Air conditioners with re-circulation of air are also not recommended in the guideline. The shop owners are urged to leave the doors open as much as possible to avoid contact. If the doors are kept closed, doorknobs and handles need to be disinfected every three hours. Alternatively, a separate employer can be assigned to handle the door for customers, guideline mentioned.

Dr. Jasinghe says that any owner or a manager who intends to reopen their salon should make a request to the Medical Officer of Health (MoH) in the respective area.

The application can also be downloaded from the official website of the Health Ministry (health.gov.lk).

No salon or barber shop will be allowed to resume functions without a valid written certificate issued by the MoH, Dr. Jasinghe has noted.

The operational guideline for barber shops and salons is attached below:

Operational Guidlines Barbe... by Ada Derana on Scribd