Professional haircuts are back, as Gov. Reeves announced Friday afternoon that salons and barbershops can begin to reopen. If you’ve been missing the gym, those can begin reopening, as well, although the Safer At Home order has been extended for another two weeks, until May 25.

Customers and owners should follow all safety guidelines posted or suggested at shops, salons and gyms. See a summarized list of guidelines at the end of this article.

As of Thursday, there have been an additional 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Lincoln County since Tuesday, according to data published by the Mississippi State Department of Health Friday morning.

Six of those cases were from residents or staff of local long-term care facilities. There have been no additional deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 179, while the number of deaths has remained at 12.

Statewide, there have been an additional 883 confirmed cases and 67 reported deaths, bringing the totals to 9,090 cases and 409 deaths. Of those, 1,091 cases and 175 deaths have been from staff and residents of long-term care facilities.

Restrictions on movement and business were relaxed somewhat Thursday as Mississippi entered what Gov. Tate Reeves calls “Stage 2” of his plan to re-open Mississippi, allowing in-house dining at 50 percent seating capacity in restaurants, allowing out-door gatherings of up to 20 people and opening public parks.

Healthcare professionals around the state are continuing to test for COVID-19. As of Monday, 80,308 tests have been administered in Mississippi. Of those, 877 tests have been performed by King’s Daughters Medical Center. Of those, 116 have tested positive for COVID-19.

People who want to receive tests from KDMC should call 601-835-9455 first. The screening site can be found by following the signs on Brookman Drive behind the hospital.

 

In this latest executive order (1480), the Governor lays out strict social distancing guidelines to begin the process of slowly and safely reopening salons, barbershops, and gyms, including:

SALONS & BARBERSHOPS:

For businesses:

• Before they can reopen, the entire salon or barbershop must be deep-cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized top to bottom. After opening, salons and barbershops must be deep-cleaned daily.
• All salons and barbershops are expected to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders, and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Hand sanitizer must be placed at all entrances.
• Minimizing person-to-person contact through technology, like mobile or online reservations and contact-less payment, is encouraged.
• Salons and barbershops must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
• Chairs are to be rearranged to ensure at least 6 feet between each customer and be sanitized after each use by a customer.
• Only one customer per employee is allowed in the salon or barbershop at any given time.

For employees:

• All employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
• Face coverings must be provided to all employees who come in direct contact with customers. Employees are required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
• Employees must also wear disposable gloves and change them between customers, as well as wash their hands between every customer.
• All employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.

For customers:

• All waiting areas are to remain closed. Customers must wait in their vehicles until their appointment time and they are called for screening before entering.
• Customers must sanitize their hands when entering and exiting.
• Customers will be screened upon entry, including asking whether they have experienced any symptoms of COVID-19.
• Customers must wear a face covering, such as a cloth mask, while inside at all times, unless they’re receiving a service that would be impeded by the covering.
• Each customer must be draped with a clean cape, which are to be laundered after each use. A protective neck strip should also be placed around the neck of each customer getting a haircut.

GYMS:

For businesses:

• Before they can reopen, the entire gym must be deep-cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized top to bottom. After opening, gyms must be deep-cleaned daily.
• All gyms are expected to take every step necessary to implement the regulations, orders, and guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health and CDC to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
• Gyms must close to the public by 10:00 PM each day.
• In addition to other gym staff, there must be at least one employee onsite during hours of operation dedicated to wiping down equipment after each use.
• All high-touch areas must be sanitized at least once every two hours.
• Exercise machines and equipment must be rearranged and/or deactivated to ensure at least 6 feet between customers.
• Gyms must post signage at each entrance stating no customer with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms are allowed in.
• Hand sanitizer must be placed at all entrances and throughout the gym floor.
• All common areas must remain closed.

For employees:

• All employees will be screened daily at the beginning of their shifts, including asking whether they have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days and have they had a fever in the last 48 hours.
• Face coverings must be provided to all employees who come in direct contact with customers. Employees are required to wear that face covering throughout their shift and clean or replace daily.
• All employees must be provided training on how to limit the spread of COVID-19.
• Every employee on the gym floor must wear disposable gloves to be changed at least once an hour.

For customers:

• No more than 30% of the gym’s maximum capacity. Gyms are encouraged to limit customers’ time to a max of 1 hour per day.
• Classes or group exercises are allowed with customers maintaining a minimum of a 6-foot distance apart.
• Customers must sanitize their hands when entering and exiting the gym and when they move between equipment.