Haircuts coming as Washington counties reach COVID-19 ‘Safe Start’ Phase 2. Here’s how

Several personal and professional service businesses will begin to open up again as Washington starts to move towards Phase Two of the “Safe Start” statewide re-opening, according to Washington Gov. Jay Inslee.

Businesses were sent letters with guidelines on how to conduct operations after eight counties received variance to open more businesses than other parts of the state, according to the release.

Counties that apply must have fewer than 75,000 residents and have no new coronavirus cases in the last three weeks. Businesses in those counties can open up starting Wednesday.

“Personal services includes cosmetologists, hairstylists, barbers, estheticians, master estheticians, manicurists, nail salon workers, electrologists, permanent makeup artists, tattoo artists, cosmetology schools, and esthetics school,” the release said. “A professional service provider is defined as an office-based occupation that typically serves a client base. This includes but is not limited to: accountants, architects, attorneys, engineers, financial advisors, information technologists, insurance agents, tax preparers, and other professional service occupations.”

Massage therapy, acupuncture, physical therapy, and chiropractic services were not included as personal services as they are regulated by the Department of Health.

In the guidance sent by Inslee’s office, employers were told to maintain 6-foot social distancing when possible, provide their employees with protective equipment, post signage encouraging their customers to use a mask and restrict capacity to 50% or less.

When making appointments at these shops, customers should not bring guests except for children under 16 coming in for an appointment, put on a mask after getting out of a car, wash their hands before any service is done, self-screen for any symptoms and contact the person performing the service when arriving.

Businesses will provide customers with disposable gowns to wear during the service, and will prefer payment with a debit or credit card or touchless payment to limit the handling of cash.

For professional businesses, face shields and sneeze guards should be placed at points of interaction and gatherings of any kind must be broken up.

All places should disinfect high-risk areas like doorknobs, handles and keypads, have running water and soap, sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol, and tissues and trash cans placed throughout the building.

Each stage of the “Safe Start” plan will last for at least three weeks before conditions are re-assessed. As of Tuesday night, Washington had 17,512 confirmed coronavirus cases and 975 deaths, according to the Department of Health.

This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 5:00 AM.