The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released updated guidelines for barbershops and salons, which allow said establishments to provide other services apart from basic haircutting.
“So ano po yung salient points sa DTI Memorandum Circular 20-38. Well, una po ang mga barbershops at salons ay pinapayagang gumawa ng lahat ng haircutting services at hair treatment services sa ilalim ng GCQ (general community quarantine),” said Presidential Spokesperson and concurrent IATF spokesperson Secretary Harry Roque, Jr in a virtual press briefing in Malacañan on July 7.
In areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), aside from haircutting and hair treatment services, salons and barbershops are also allowed to give the following services: nail care, basic facial care like make-up, eyebrow threading, eyelash extension, facial massage, and other basic personal care services such as waxing, threading, shaving, foot spa, and hand spa.
According to the DTI guidelines, all these services shall be provided subject to a strict protocol on hand sanitation, wearing of face mask or face shield, use of gloves, and sterilized equipment.
In terms of operating capacity, Roque said: “Sa ilalim po ng GCQ, 30 percent ang operating capacity sa barbershops at salons at 50 percent naman po sa MGCQ.”
The current operating capacity limit for barbershops and salons will be in effect until July 15, as come the second half of the month, operating capacity for these establishments will be gradually raised to 50 percent for GCQ areas, and up to 75 percent capacity for areas under MGCQ.
“Ngunit kinakailangan pa rin po sundin ang physical distancing at prescribed minimum health protocols,” added Sec Roque, who discussed the mandatory health standards and protocols for barbershops and parlors, per the updated DTI guidelines.
These include the strict enforcement of “no face mask, no entry policy” in all establishments, applying alcohol or hand sanitizer to customers before entry, and registering in the SafePass or staysafe.ph or administering a health declaration checklist for tracing purposes.
Thermal scanning will also be done strictly, and customers who will register a temperature higher than 36.5 degrees Celsius will be denied entry, as well as those manifesting symptoms like fever, cough, and difficulty of breathing. Similarly, employees of barbershops and salons who have COVID-19 symptoms will not be allowed to work.
To enforce social distancing, chairs that are allowed to be occupied in said establishments shall have at least one-meter distance from other seats on all sides. The salon or barbershop should also have proper ventilation and exhaust system, restrooms should be properly sanitized, and establishment should be free of accumulated trash. Lastly, customers will not be allowed companions, unless absolutely necessary.
On another matter, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) also approved the recommendation of the sub-Technical Working Group on the Entry of Foreign Nationals. “Una, ang pagbuo po sa sub-Technical Working Group on travel. Pangalawa, ang pag-alis sa suspensyon ng non-essential na mga biyahe ng mga Pilipino. Kaugnay nito, lahat ng travel restrictions na may kinalaman sa outbound travel ng mga Pilipino ay inalis na rin po,” said Secretary Roque.
The IATF spokesperson added that outbound tourism is now allowed subject to the conditions set by the IATF in its Resolution No. 52. These conditions are the following: submission of confirmed round-trip tickets for those traveling on tourist visas; adequate travel health insurance to cover rebooking and accommodation expenses if stranded or need hospitalization in case of infection, allowed entry by destination country in accordance with their travel, health, and quarantine restrictions, and the execution of a declaration acknowledging the risks involved in traveling.
Lastly, upon return to the country, they are to abide by the Guidelines on Returning Overseas Filipinos. “Pagbalik sa Pilipinas sundin ang guidelines ng mga returning overseas Filipino of the National Task Force, eto po yung magpapa-PCR at quarantine muna habang hindi pa po lumalabas ang resulta ng PCR test,” said Sec. Roque. ### OPS-PCOO