Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday delayed until early June reopening beauty parlors and barber shops in Connecticut as business owners insist the coronavirus is too grave a threat to workers who stand inches from their customers.
The governor and his advisory committee established guidelines for a much-anticipated opening Wednesday, cheering disheveled customers who looked forward to getting their first haircut in months.
Lamont now says he’s aligning policy with that of Rhode Island and he cited “extensive discussions with owners and employees of these businesses.”
“We’ve been hearing a lot of feedback from many owners and employees and at this time I think the best approach is that we hit pause on the reopening of hair salons and barbershops, take a step back, and allow some more time as preparations continue to be made,” he said.
As the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients continues to decline, Lamont and his advisers have drawn up rules for a gradual reopening that includes restaurants, retailers and other businesses. But the business owners who organized the Connecticut Beauty Association pushed back against the Wednesday opening, complaining that a discussion last week with Lamont did not immediately result in a decision to their liking.
A protest had been planned Monday at the Capitol and Governor’s Mansion.
“Not opening a business is a huge, huge decision,” said Odete DaSilva, a Westport beauty shop owner and organizer of the business association. “This is not an easy thing for us to do.”
Lamont faced more criticism, this time for delaying the opening of barber shops and beauty parlors.
New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart said she was frustrated that the governor announced a revised policy at the “last minute.” The city employs three inspectors for 43 barbershops and beauty parlors, she said. The officials must now contact business owners, advise them of the new state guidelines and determine what the businesses must do to reopen.
“We’re sitting here and the governor announces that everything will reopen May 20. We’re busting our behinds to get everything open,” said Stewart, a Republican. “Now we have to go back and say, ‘Just kidding.'”
Senate Republican leader Len Fasano of North Haven said Lamont did not take into account the views of salon and barbershop owners until after deciding on the May 20 opening date.
“The rug is being pulled out from under hundreds of employers and job creators across the state,” he said.
The Democratic governor said in an interview last week with The Hartford Courant that reopening beauty and barber shops would be limited and coincides with the gradual reopening of restaurants and other businesses. Beauticians and barbers would operate by appointment only and with fewer chairs to enforce social distancing, “just to give people confidence, and to give the customer a little confidence as well,” the governor said.t
DaSilva said that under such conditions, beauticians and barbers would make just 25% of their incomes before the pandemic. “Is it really worth such strict requirements?” she asked.
She also said salons and barber shops don’t have enough personal protective equipment, particularly face masks, that would ease concerns of employees and customers.
In addition, because most workers in the industry are women, returning to work would force them to halt at-home education of their children and possibly bring the COVID-19 infection into their homes where elderly grandparents are caring for the youngsters, DaSilva said.
Individually-owned beauty parlors and barber shops that voluntarily remained closed to avoid the coronavirus also would be at a competitive disadvantage with hair cutting chains that would remain open, she said. To assure a level playing field, all salons and barbershops should open at the same time, DaSilva said.
“It’s not a fair choice,” she said. “We’re just asking for a safer way to reopen so the entire industry can open successfully.”
Customers, too, expressed concerns about the risk of sitting in a chair while a beautician or barber faced them far closer than the six feet required to avoid infection, DaSilva said.
“It’s impossible to cut someone’s bangs from behind,” she said.
Stephen Singer can be reached at ssinger@courant.com.
