State Defends Continued Closure of Hair Salons, Barbers

HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine has defended the state against criticism that barbers, salon operators and massage therapists are being discriminated against in the state’s phased reopening.

Levine defended the state at press briefings both Friday and Saturday. On Friday she said it would be impossible for such businesses to maintain social distancing. She said, “We are dealing with a very contagious and very deadly virus.”

Levine said face masks would not necessarily keep the virus from spreading in such businesses:

“Let’s look at a scenario: If someone was asymptomatic, and they were the person working in the hair salon, they would see, you know, perhaps one person an hour, eight patients day, and be working five six days a week. They could expose a whole bunch of patients to COVID-19, and then those patients expose other patients, and that’s how we get clusters and outbreaks.

“So, even though there might not be that many customers in the salon, it’s impossible to practice the social distancing that we’re discussing when you’re performing those functions, and so that’s why they are going to remain closed until we get to a green zone time.”

Clinton County will be among 24 north-central and northwestern counties to go to a “yellow” designation for lesser virus-related restrictions as of May 8. Gov. Tom Wolf is expected to announce more details on Monday.