Amid minimal rush, salons reopen with new rules
PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, May 26
Although life is limping back to normalcy following relaxations in lockdown 4.0, traders feel that it is still a long way to go before business activities are back on track.
The Covid-19 pandemic has created a sense of fear among people, who have become more cautious. They still think twice before visiting salons, feels Pankaj Sharma, who runs a prominent saloon and spa on the GT road in the Putlighar area.
“We opened just three days ago and are following all guidelines and taking measures to ensure proper hygiene. Before opening the salon, the entire complex is sanitised repeatedly. We are working with a limited staff at present and maintaining social distancing by fixing prior appointments,” he said, adding that the rush was minimal as of now.
He said all staff members and clients were given sanitisers before starting the job. Staff had been given PPE kits, besides masks and gloves. All equipment were sanitised after every use.
Manu, a make-up artist at the salon, said, “We accept this to be a new normal at least for this year. As we all know that precaution is the only solution, therefore it becomes our responsibility to maintain proper hygiene so that no one contracts this contagious disease.”
“We have asked our customers to take prior appointment so that social distancing could be followed. We also advise them to bring minimum accessories as a safety measure,” she said.
Also the director of the Lakme academy franchise, she says, “Only 30 per cent of the staff is working in the academy and that too after taking proper care.”
Rahul, a hairdresser, said, “This is a new experience for all of us. It is difficult to work in safety kits, but we will soon become habitual to this as public safety has become our prime responsibility. In the past three days, we have attended mostly women customers who came for haircut.”
“After the two-month curfew, the first thing I wanted to have was haircut, though I was scared too. But after seeing the precautionary measures being taken by the salon staff, I am sure more customers will come soon,” said Tamnna, a client.
