Central Texas barbershops and hair salons can reopen Friday, but with some restrictions under new orders that Gov. Greg Abbott issued Tuesday, further easing restrictions put in place to help stem the spread of COVID-19.
Salons and barbershops are permitted to serve one customer per barber or stylist with six feet of separation between each chair.
Stylists and barbers must wear face masks and customers who are waiting for service must stay outside or in their vehicles.
Melanie Delgado, owner of Creative Cuts in Killeen, says after being closed for more than six weeks, her staff couldn’t be more excited to reopen.
“We immediately started to clean up the place,” she said.
“It was like our lives got taken from us. We live and breathe hair. It’s what we enjoy to do and it means the world to us.”
Some Central Texans, like Berkley Martinson, say they can’t wait to make an appointment.
“I’m sure the line will be out the door,” she said.
“It’s just exciting to get those things back. Me and my mom were planning on scheduling an appointment on my birthday.”
Others, like Patricia Jackson, think it’s way too soon to reopen.
“I believe it’s gonna cause a lot of issues,” she said.
“All it takes is one person to infect a lot of people.”
Gyms may reopen on May 18, Abbott said, but must restrict occupancy to 25 percent capacity.
Guidelines issued earlier governing church services have been extended to funerals, burials memorial services and weddings.
Those include seating in alternating rows with six feet of separation between families or households.
— KWTX 10
