Barbershops, Hair Salons Reopen In Somerville

SOMERVILLE, MA – Barbershops and hair salons in Somerville were given the green light to reopen Monday, provided they submitted safety plans to the city and follow all safety requirements in the state's reopening plan. Establishments will not be allowed to offer blow-drying services until further notice.

"Our guiding principles here are to protect worker, customer, and community safety with the hope that everyone can open once and stay open," Mayor Joseph Curtatone said in a statement. "We want visitors to our local businesses to know that the owners and the City are fully informed, vigilant, and committed to safety. It doesn’t mean we will be able to prevent all risk. The virus is still here. But in Somerville, our salon and barbershop owners have gone the extra mile to review, prepare for, and take every precaution to reduce that risk."

Somerville previously announced a more cautious June 1 opening date for certain on-premises businesses such as manufacturing, offices and personal services, while also stating that additional safety needs for hair salons and barbershops would be under review. Over the past week, the Economic Development team held a virtual forum for salon and barbershop owners in the city, which led to intensive and swift work by an advisory group.

A self-selected advisory group of hair service providers representing the roughly 70 providers in the city worked with the Health Department, Inspectional Services and Economic Development staff to review the array of safety protocols announced across the nation, dig into existing research, review equipment needs and sources and issue final recommendations that exceed the requirements of the governor's plan. They also identified some aspects for which they asked the Mayor to advocate for change.

Key differences include salons and barbers opening a week later than allowed by the state, and in Somerville, the submission of a compliant safety plan is required (plans should be submitted to ISD@somervillema.gov). Inspectional Services will be carrying out spot inspections to ensure proper plan implementation. Blow-drying will also temporarily not be allowed; this service will remain under review.

"I am honored to be a part of this and I'm grateful that Mayor Curtatone created this opportunity for all of us to work together. It was helpful to work with a health official as we worked through this because our main goal here is to open once and do it well and safely. Getting this right the first time is best for us, our staff, our customers, and the public," Lindsay Griffin, of Lindsay Griffin & Co., one of three co-chairs of the advisory group, said in a statement.

The city also committed to reviewing possible options for COVID-19 testing to be expanded to workers in Somerville, not just residents. Owners also self-organized to create information-sharing channels to share ongoing tips, solutions, PPE resources, and other related information, and city staff will be assisting with compiling safety supply and equipment sources as well.

Somerville Requirements for salons and barbershops are as follows:

1. Effective at 12:01 am, June 1, 2020 hair salons and barbershops may open their businesses to workers and customers, provided that they follow the workplace rules and standards set forth and referenced herein.
2. All hair salons and barbershops must maintain and follow at a minimum the safety rules and guidelines referenced in the Governor’s COVID-19 Order No. 33.
3. Before being permitted to open, each brick-and-mortar location shall submit a compliant COVID-19 Safety and Layout Plan to the Inspectional Services Department for review. The plan shall be made available to workers, customers, and City inspectors.
4. The City, through its enforcing agents, shall have the right to request modifications to the Safety and Layout Plan so as to bring it into compliance. Businesses that fail to comply with health and safety requirements, as determined by the City’s enforcing agents, may be required to cease operations until they can safely resume.
5. In addition to the service restrictions set out in the Commonwealth’s sector-specific guidance, blow-drying shall not be permitted until further notice.
6. A customer log, as referenced in the Commonwealth’s sector-specific requirements, must date back to a minimum of four weeks, to allow for contact tracing.