You Can’t Ditch That Quarantine Look Just Yet

You can't ditch that quarantine look just yet.

 Barbershops and salons are still not allowed to operate even if quarantine measures are eased in Metro Manila, Cebu City, and Laguna after May 15.

These areas will remain under enhanced community quarantine – albeit a modified one – until May 31 while the rest of the country will shift to the more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ).

While they are still considered "high-risk" areas, the government opted to relax a few restrictions to start reopening the economy.

Unfortunately for those who are itching to have a haircut, parlors, salons, and barbershops are not among the establishments that can reopen under the modified enhanced community (MECQ).

In fact, "barbershops and salons" are the only sectors under Category 3 industries that are not allowed under MECQ, based on the guidelines approved by the Inter-agency Task Force on the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The bad news for those who badly need a haircut does not end there. Data released by Malacañang indicate that there is no assurance yet that barbershops and salons will be allowed to reopen even in areas under GCQ.

"Barbershops and salons" were listed as sectors that cannot operate in GCQ areas although it was accompanied with a marginal note that read "DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) reviewing."

Establishments not related to food production and healthcare, including beauty parlors and barbershops, were forced to close shop when Luzon was placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) last March 17.

The ECQ forced some people, including some celebrities, to have their hair cut at home or just let their hair grow, allowing them to have what is now called the "quarantine look."

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque previously said safe physical distance is hard to observe in barbershops and salons.

"The problem with salons, barber shops is it is impossible to observe social distancing unless we develop scissors that are longer, those that will not require the one cutting the hair to move close (to the customer)," Roque said in a recent press briefing.

Category 3 industries that will be permitted under MECQ are rental and leasing other than real estate (e.g. vehicles, equipment for permitted sectors); and employment activities (e.g. recruitment and placement for permitted sectors).

Other industries that belong to the same category will be allowed to operate partially, which means that they can deploy only half of their workers onsite. These industries include advertising and market research, computer programming, publishing and printing services including newspapers and books; film, music and television production; other activities like photography, fashion, industrial, graphic and interior design; wholesale and retail trade of motor vehicles; and repair of motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles; malls and commercial centers (non-leisure only); dining and restaurants (no dine-in, delivery and takeaway only); bookstores and school and office supplies stores; hardware stores, clothing and accessories; mall-based government frontline services; baby care supplies stores; per food and pet care supplies; IT communications and electronic equipment; flower, jewelry, novelty, antique, and perfume shops; and toy stores.

The government also reverted the areas that it earlier announced to have graduated from community quarantine back to modified GCQ, citing the need to have a phased or gradual transition from ECQ, MECQ, GCQ, modified GCQ and new normal.

There are some groups that offer free hair cut to health workers and other frontliners but the barbers and hairdressers wear personal protective equipment.

But the services provided by the Office of the Vice President, for example, are confined in the dormitories it opened near various hospitals in Metro Manila since public transport was suspended under ECQ.

These free dormitories  for health workers and other frontliners are located in the cities of Manila, Quezon, and Pasig.

Read more: LIST: Sectors Allowed Under ECQ, MECQ, GCQ

Oops, These Areas Will Remain Under Modified GCQ; Guidelines For The Phased Transition From ECQ to GCQ