Starting Wednesday, May 6, hair salons, barber shops, massage therapy and medical spa services, and tattoo parlors will be allowed to reopen.

 

The news of this reopening follows the announcement on April 30 that gyms would be allowed to reopen on May 4 and that restaurants will be allowed to re-open dine-in services on a limited basis on May 11.

 

As part of the Phase I reopening, barber shops, cosmetology salons, massage therapy and medical spa services and tattoo parlors will be allowed to open with specific restrictions. These businesses must restrict the number of individuals in their facilities, limiting occupancy to 10 or fewer individuals. In addition, larger facilities will not be allowed to use more than 30 percent of their stations until further notice.

 

Walk-in appointments will not be allowed, and clients will be required to wait outside or in cars until ready for their appointments. While waiting, there must be a six-foot distance between customers.

 

Businesses must record client names and collect contact information in the event of COVID-19 transmission.

 

According to Arkansas Department of Health Secretary Dr. Nathaniel Smith, these measures will be enforced through licensing bodies. He said that these industries are already subject to public health requirements and agencies will be monitoring and enforcing complaints.

 

However, this reopening will not affect cosmetology and barber schools. These schools will not reopen until at least Phase 2 of the reopening process.

 

Phase 2 will increase the number of people allowed inside of hair salons, barbers, or the other facilities listed in this directive. State officials will consider allowing walk-ins, instead of only appointments, but this has not been confirmed.

 

Several requirements will remain in place during Phase 2. These restrictions include six-foot social distancing, health screenings, and wearing face coverings.

 

Under Phase 3, normal operations will be allowed to continue.

 

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