Preventive Measures and Conditions with the Reopening of Salons, Barbers and Gyms

After five months of closure, the Supreme Committee has allowed the sixth batch of commercial activities that also include barbershops, beauty parlours, restaurants and cafes to reopen from Wednesday.

These conditions have been set by the Muscat Municipality and concern both workers and customers.

These are the conditions and preventive measures for customers to limit the spread of COVID-19 for all activities that have been reopened, customers should:

• Disclose COVID-19 symptoms or info such as being infected or coming in contact with it.
• Must sanitize their hands with sterilizers that contain 20% alcohol before entering the facility and after receiving the service.
• It’s forbidden to leave personal tools in the facility or to be obligated to bring them at the time of the visit.
• It is forbidden to share personal items and meals with others.
• Must adhere to preventive guidelines and controls, maintain a distance of 2 meters, and reduce conversational exchange as much as possible with others while receiving services.

Conditions for gyms:

• The number of people present will be controlled to maintain social distancing and a capacity that doesn’t exceed 50%.
• Treadmills and other devices will be distanced 2 or more meters apart.
• There should be a waiting spot planned out for customers to wait on devices and equipment while maintaining physical distancing.
• Swimming pools, showers, saunas etc. will remain closed.
• Masks should be worn before entering and during physical exercise. Partial removal of masks is allowed during jogging and aerobics only.
• You must provide your own towels, and wipe sweat off your body to prevent it from dripping onto surfaces
• You should provide your own sports gloves to avoid direct contact with devices and weights, and it is necessary to sterilize it before and after using devices and weights, if possible.
• Customers should bring their own water bottles

Conditions for barber shops:

• Chairs should be about 2 meters away from each other and will be will be sterilizers before dealing with any customer or a single-use plastic cover will be used.
• Single-use shaving tools (razors, face and hair brush, protective covers for the customer, protective covers for chairs) will be provided.
• All plastic tools along with metal tools will be placed in a heat box or UVL device and sterilized between each use.
• Services will be limited to shaving the hair and beard only, provided that the face shield is worn.
• The following services shouldn’t be provided: all kinds of cosmetic practices that penetrate the skin, keeping personal tools for customers inside the facility, face massages and use of steam for the face, thread removal of facial hair, whether using the mouth or any other method that allows close to the face.

• Customers should be wearing a mask before entering, with the allowance of partial mask removal when receiving services related to facial beautification.
• The capacity at the salon should not exceed 50%.
• Disposable paper towels will be used instead of cloth ones, and customers are allowed to bring their own.
• Single use tools should be used as much as possible, otherwise they will be placed inside a heat box or UVL device and staralized between each use.
• Conversation between employees and customers should be limited, especially when providing services.
• Services permitted in the first stage:
  • Cutting and dyeing hair
  • Cleaning and trimming the nails
  • Removal of body hair with wax
• Services permitted in the second stage:
  • Make-up: eyeliner shouldn’t be used except in the case of using single-use ones for each client.
  • Skin care: use of single-use towels and sponges and disposable containers to put lotions and creams.
  • Henna: A face shield and mask must be worn by both the client and the worker.
  • Massage: Hot stone massage therapy is not allowed.
• Services not permitted:
  • All kinds of cosmetic practices that penetrate the skin.
  • Facial massage and use of facial steam machines.
  • Threading of facial hair, whether using the mouth or any other method that allows the technician to be close to the customers face.
  • Removing facial or body hair using hair removal machines, unless it is one time use or belongs to the customer.
  • Moroccan baths.
  • All kinds of home services.
  • Holding photo sessions or parties and social events.

Source: http://virginradiooman.com/conditions-and-regulations-associated-with-the-re-opening-of-salons-barbers-and-gyms/