Coronavirus: Close contact beauty services can resume from 1 August
By Helena Biggs | 17 July 2020 | Movers & Shakers, News
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has announced that close contact beauty services such as facials, lash and brow treatments, can resume in England from 1 August.
This follows the announcement that nail and beauty businesses could reopen from 13 July – but no treatments could be carried out in the ‘high risk zone’, directly in front of the face.
Numerous campaigns launched across the beauty sector to encourage the government to rethink its stance on facial beauty services, particularly as hairdressers have fewer restrictions. It would now seem that thanks to efforts across the sector, and in particular from the likes of the NHBF, British Beauty Council and BABTAC, that the pleas have been heard.
“This is fantastic news for thousands of people in the beauty industry who have, up until now, been unsure about the future of their businesses,” comments Hilary Hall, chief executive of the NHBF. “We have been working tirelessly with other industry organisations to get to this point, and to lobby for any further financial support needed.
“We must remind everyone working in close contact services to ensure they operate in a safe and secure way so that the industry doesn’t face any more closures.”
All businesses will be required to operate in a Covid-secure way and undertake risk assessments. They must follow the guidelines set out by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), including wearing the appropriate PPE, social distancing, thorough cleaning, and operating by appointment-only.
The rules apply to all beauty practitioners working in England; those working in salons, as freelancers, mobile operators and retail and session artists.
The Prime Minister also revealed that new powers will be given to local authorities to control and contain local outbreaks. This includes being able to close specific types of premises in a whole area if there is seen to be a risk of spreading the virus.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy will be updating its ‘Safer workplaces’ guidelines in the coming days to include this latest announcement.
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