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Merge 104.8 | 26 August 2020
With the sixth batch of commercial activities allowed to re-open in Oman from today [Wednesday, August 26], Muscat Municipality has issued stringent sets of guidelines to businesses to ensure that proper health and safety measures are followed.
Speaking to Merge 104.8’s sister station Al Wisal, Dr. Shawqi Al Zadjali, Director-General of Health Affairs at Muscat Municipality, outlined the preventive guidelines issued to barbershops, beauty, and hair salons.
— Customers over the age of 60 and children below the age of 12 are still not allowed to enter these locations.
— Staff and customers in barbershops must wear face-masks, except during beard-trimming services where the customer is required to remove his face-mask. During the time that the customer’s face-mask is removed, the staff must wear both a mask and a face-shield.
— For cosmetic services in women’s beauty shops that require close contact between the customer and the staff — such as henna application and/or hair removal — the staff member must wear a face-mask and a use a shield between them. The shield can be any transparent barrier set up between the customer and the staff member and does not have to be solely a face-shield.
— Services such as threading for hair removal is prohibited, though using electronic machines/tools for these services is allowed. However, the electronic machine/tool must be the property of the customer themselves. and they must bring it with them to the beauty shop or salon.
— Customers must bring with them their own equipment/tools and towels for these and other services, as well as their own makeup for cosmetic applications.
— Hospitality services at beauty shops and salons, such as offering clients tea or refreshments, and stocking magazines in the common areas, are prohibited.
— Employee temperature readings at barbershops, beauty shops and salons must be taken daily and recorded every eight hours.
— Shops must adhere to appropriate scheduling to keep track of customers who are coming and going from the shop to avoid over-crowding.
— Waiting areas for customers will be prohibited so as to avoid crowding, and customers must have their temperatures screened before being allowed to enter.
— Customers will be asked to reveal to staff if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever or cough, and staff must register the details of each customer including name, phone number, and temperature. These details must be saved for 15 days.
— Shops must ensure proper ventilation, such as opening the windows.
— Shops must provide hand sanitizers on-site containing at least 70 per cent alcohol.
— Shops must make sure that awareness signs are posted in the facility to ensure two metre physical distancing measures.
— Conversation between staff and customers should be limited during the service and proper hand-washing measures followed.
— Staff must ensure ample time is scheduled between one client to the next so that the work-station area can be properly sanitized between customers.
— All staff must report any symptoms of COVID-19 immediately and leave the shop at once if they are feeling unwell and inform the shop management of their symptoms.
