Salons in PCMC to reopen with rigid mandates in place

Few of the measures are too extreme, say barbers’ associations

Amid lockdown 4.0, which will be in force till May 31, a few relaxations have been granted to resume operations of offices, industries and business to boost the economy barring those in containment zones. While salons, barber shops and spas, except for those in malls, were allowed to reopen in many cities, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad had decided to go slow on the decision due to the rise in the number of virus-positive cases.

Finally on Sunday, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) gave a green signal to reopen such facilities with a bunch of strict guidelines in place.

Municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar issued the fresh mandates after it was announced that the city will no longer be a red zone.

Henceforth, barbers will not be allowed to use shaving brush. They will have to apply foam or jell as a substitute to ensure smooth shaving as sterilising the brush every time is not feasible. Customers will need to carry their own napkins to avoid contact with napkins used on others. In addition, staffers will not be allowed to do head and face massage with bare hands. Each time, new gloves should be used mandatorily. Most importantly, customers must keep wearing a mask, which can be removed only while trimming and shaving.

Many barbers’ associations have raised their voice against these new directives, saying that while they are ready to follow social distancing and other safety measures laid down by the civic authority, a few of the rules are too extreme and time consuming.

The guidelines further state that shop owners have to obtain permission before starting operation and the outlets must be located in a permanent establishment.

“Hand sanitisers have to be made available at entry points and both staff and customers have to compulsorily wear face masks at all times. All equipment must be sanitised after each use. Staff should sanitise their hands after every haircut or shave. Appointments or token system should be adopted to stagger client entry and adequate spacing of at least one metre has to be maintained for seating. All common areas, floors, lifts, lounge areas, staircase and handrails must be disinfected with 1 per cent sodium hypochlorite solution at least twice daily. Carpets and floor area should be cleaned frequently,” the guideline states.

“Sharp waste, which includes blades, disposable razors, etc., should be collected in a white container with 1per cent sodium hypochlorite solution,” the mandate adds.

The guideline further says that the shops must have proper natural sunlight, ventilation and drinking water facility. “Each shop must install a foot-operated or no-contact sanitiser dispenser. It is not feasible to wash or sterilise the brush after each use. So it is mandatory to exclude the brush, which could be replace with foam or jell,” reads the statement.

The salon timings have also been fixed between 9 am and 5 pm.

Santosh Raut, member of Pimpri-Chinchwad Nabhik Union, said, “Some of the conditions like carrying own napkin and massaging with gloves are difficult to follow. Majority of shops run in temporary sheds. Only established brands can fulfil these requirements. With high cost of maintenance, we will be forced to inflate the rates of all the services.”

When asked, Santosh Patil, additional commissioner of PCMC, said, “Our aim is to control the pandemic. These guidelines are mandatory as the tools used by barbers come in close contact with the respiratory system and physical contact is unavoidable.”

“These norms have been drafted by us after taking opinions from health experts. We need to change old habits for the sake of everyone’s safety,” added Patil.