Gov. Gavin Newsom offered some hope to everyone who desperately needs a haircut on Tuesday after announcing he's cleared the way for barbershops and hair salons to reopen in counties that have been given the go-ahead to proceed further down California's reopening roadmap.
“Along those lines, they (counties) will be able to add in barber shops and hair salons to those regional variations starting today,'' Newsom said, adding that the businesses will have to operate with substantial safety modifications.
“We put those guidelines out ... and those counties will begin to allow for those kinds of operations with meaningful modifications, with the appropriate protective gear, particularly face coverings that are so essential in that environment, sanitation requirements and the like.''
Forty-seven counties, including Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties have been given the thumbs up to reopen hair salons and barbershops. Los Angeles County, which has reported roughly half of the state's total coronavirus cases and deaths - has not been granted the "regional variance" needed to open more types of businesses. The 'regional variance' are granted on criteria such as the rate of coronavirus infections and deaths as well as the availability of testing and contact-tracing.
In addition, the variances also allow counties to resume limited dine-in service at restaurants and in-person shopping at retail establishments.
However, Newsom cautioned that while businesses may be reopening, the danger of COVID-19 spreading among communities still exists.
“We're moving forward. We're not looking back, but we are walking into the unknown, the untested, literally and figuratively,'' he said. “And we have to be guided by the data that brought us to this place in the first place, that is, guided by these principles of openness and transparency, principles where all of us are required to do a little bit more and little bit better to make sure we're (preventing) the spread of this virus as we meaningfully reopen the economy of the state.''
Nail salons and fitness gyms have not been cleared to reopen.
Newsom says further guidance governing businesses such as summer camps and child care facilities will be released on Wednesday. Guidelines for film and television production was supposed to be released on Monday, however, state officials are still working with people in the film industry and unions to finalize those plans.