Page 27 - Florida Sentinel 5-8-20

COVID-19
Reopening U.S. States Are Taking Their First Steps Toward A New Normal
Carlos Davis used to have about 200 clients drop by his CUT-ology barbershop in Albany, Georgia, every day.
On Friday, the first day he was al- lowed to reopen since the coronavirus pandemic, around 30 clients came in.
Wearing gloves, a construction face mask and a face shield, Davis said he was taking precautions to protect his staff and clients. A piece of paper on the door outlined the mandatory guidelines for clients, saying they must wear a mask and gloves in order to enter.
He's afraid of the virus, yes. But he also fears losing his haircutting busi- ness, and what that could mean for him.
"If I don't cut, I don't eat," he said.
Davis's decision to reopen comes as a number of states have begun to loosen stay-at-home restrictions -- even as the novel coronavirus contin- ues to infect and kill people. Across the country, more than 950,000 people have tested positive for the virus and
Xuan Le wears a mask as she works on the nails of Deriana Hayward at Envy Nail Bar on Friday, April 24, in Savannah.
tattoo studios and massage therapists on Friday, with theaters and restau- rants to follow Monday. The reopen- ings come despite warnings from health experts, local mayors and even President Donald Trump. The in- fluential COVID-19 model by the In- stitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, for example, says social distancing should not be relaxed in Georgia until June 22.
Businesses that do reopen still must try to maintain social distancing and take steps to keep their staff and customers safe. But that is not always possible in businesses with such close contact.
Savannah Stafford is opening her salon in Savannah, but she con- ceded that maintaining six feet of dis- tance is not possible between a hair stylist and a client.
"You can kind of distance between the next two people throughout the salon," Stafford said Friday, "but it's going to be difficult because we're so hands on."
more than 54,000 have died.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy al-
lowed salons and restaurants to re- open in most parts of the state Friday. Oklahoma allowed some personal- care businesses to reopen for appoint- ments Friday as well. Even in
California, some beaches that had been closed reopened for public use, though with limitations.
Georgia's reopening has been the most aggressive so far. Gov. Brian Kemp ordered the reopening of hair and nail salons, gyms, bowling alleys,
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