Beauty salons, barber shops, body art facilities and more will be able to re-open May 6, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced during Friday’s briefing.
Hutchinson said he made the announcement just in time for Mother’s Day, which will be May 10.
Salons, barber shops, cosmetology, massage therapy, body art and medical spas will be able to re-open with restrictions Wednesday. The governor said this should give businesses enough time to make preparations to re-open while following the following guidelines:
Keep ten or fewer people in the facility
Larger facilities are to have no more than 30% of stations in operation
No-walk in appointments (reservations only)
Clients should wait outside or in cars until ready
Appropriate time between appointments for cleaning
A 6-foot distance between clients during appointments
Client names and contact information should be recorded
Those vulnerable or at a higher-risk of contracting COVID-19 should consider staying home
Face coverings are required for staff and clients where service permits
Gloves should be worn and hands washed between appointments
Staff and clients should be screened, and appointments postponed if a client shows symptoms, even if attributed to allergies
Thorough cleaning and disinfection
Cosmetology and barber schools are not included in the re-opening, Hutchinson said.
Sec. of Health Dr. Nate Smith also announced he’s appointing a COVID-19 dental advisory group to help prepare a directive to allow dentists’ offices to resume operations with limitations May 18.
Dr. Michelle Smith, director of the office of minority health and health disparities, joined Hutchinson and Nate Smith at the podium to announce a COVID-19 relief initiative, which will provide grants up to $1,000 to help organizations working to address hardships due to the virus.
“We look forward to assisting them and identifying where the most need exists so resources can quickly be disseminated to those areas,” Michelle Smith said.
She also said her office has partnered with minority barber shops, beauty salons and other organizations to help educate customers on health screenings and follow up care.
According to the ADH, there have been 1,054 cases of COVID-19 in those who are black, 1,629 in those who are white, 132 in those who are Hispanic, eight in American Indians, 40 in Asians, 31 in Pacific Islanders, 13 in those who are multiracial, 77 in other and 403 in missing.
Nate Smith delved into the numbers and said the state has 3,321 cases of the virus, a 66 case increase from Thursday — five of those cases came from the Federal Correctional Institution in Forrest City.
He said the CDC team is still at the facility doing testing. There are now 135 inmates with the virus, and he expects more reports over the next few days.
Nate Smith said 95 patients are hospitalized, no change from Thursday, with 23 on ventilators. He also said there are now 64 deaths, 23 of which are associated with nursing homes.
He said there are 229 cases in nursing homes with 142 staff members with the virus.
According to the ADH, there are 96 cases in those 17 and younger, 266 in those 18-24, 1,244 in those 25-44, 1,105 in those 45-64 and 543 in those 65 and older.
There are now, though, 1,972 people recovered from the virus, which is a 668 increase from Thursday. Nate Smith said people were recategorized — he said there was an issue contacting those who have recovered to confirm the information.
Local numbers
According to the ADH, Union County has 54 positive cases of COVID-19, with 263 negative tests and 30 recoveries.