Punjab Health Department Issues Advisory For Barber Shops

Health Department on Sunday issued a detailed advisory for maintaining of hygiene and sanitization of Barbershops/hair-cut saloons during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the department stated that the owner of the Barbershop/ Hair-cut saloon would have to ensure that any staff member who has symptoms of COVID-19 (Fever, Dry Cough, breathing difficulty, etc) is not engaged at work and stays at home on sick medical advice. Similarly no client having such symptoms should be attended.

All clients should be asked to avail services unaccompanied unless necessary (such as parent/guardian). It should be ensured by the owners that there is no unnecessary crowding Barbershops/Hair cut saloons, the spokesperson added.

Further, clients must use the mask to the extent possible while availing services. Owners and staff working in such shops will mandatorily use mask.

All guidelines related to prevention of Covid-19 like frequent hand washing (with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer), maintaining a physical distance of one meter, following respiratory hygiene, keeping a watch over disease symptoms, no spitting in public, etc must be complied with during the interpersonal dealing of clients and staff, the advisory stipulates.

In addition, the shop owners should encourage the customers to use the digital payment mode as much as possible. In case cash transaction is used, the shopkeeper, staff, and clients shall sanitize their hands immediately before and after cash transaction.

Regarding proper cleaning at shops, indoor areas including service rooms, waiting areas, workstations etc should be cleaned preferably every 2-3 hours. Floors should be cleaned with 1% Sodium Hypochlorite or equivalent commercial disinfectant. Furniture and frequently touched surfaces and articles should be regularly cleaned/sanitized.

Tools (Scissors, razors, combs, styling tools) should be wiped with 1% Sodium Hypochlorite after every use. Robes, towels, and related items should be clean and regularly washed robes, towels etc. Should not be reused for multiple clients.