While pubs and hairdressers have been given the all clear by government to reopen on 4 July, many business owners were disappointed to learn they must keep their doors closed for now.
“It was a shock. I can understand the logical argument but personally it feels very irritating and disappointing,” says Adam Grant, a tattoo artist and studio manager at Tattoo UK in Uxbridge, west London.
He says it was frustrating to hear that hairdressers can open on 4 July, while tattoo parlours must remain closed.
It was especially irritating since tattoo parlours already have measures in place to prevent-cross contamination he says, such as the disposable gloves and aprons which artists must wear.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told parliament on Tuesday that the government’s public health experts will work with sectors which remain closed, to help them become “Covid secure” and open “as soon as possible”.
Image copyrightTARA WILLIAMSONIn the hope of a 4 July opening, Mr Grant had already made changes to the way the studio operated, including mandating face masks and asking future customers to come to appointments alone.
“We’ve been left in limbo really, until further notice,” he says.
As a self-employed tattoo artist Adam was able to claim financial support from the government during lockdown, but he says that only covered him for 2-3 months.
“We may have to see if we can get another self-employment scheme because if we’re not allowed to open, we need to be compensated,” he says.
The ten businesses still not allowed to reopen:
- Nightclubs
- Casinos
- Bowling alleys and indoor skating rinks
- Indoor play areas including soft-play
- Spas
- Nail bars and beauty salons
- Massage, tattoo and piercing parlours
- Gyms and dance studios
- Swimming pools and water parks
- Exhibition and conference centres
Beautician Tara Williamson is also frustrated by what she sees as a double standard from government, with hairdressers allowed to reopen but beauty salons staying closed.
She runs The Beauty, Skin and Eyelash Lounge in Epping and had planned to open on 4 July.
“I don’t really get it. I don’t see a reason why we couldn’t open and it will obviously be a big blow,” she says.
‘Seems crazy’
Tara had already made a number of changes at the salon, following safety guidelines that were issued to salons reopening overseas, in the absence of any clear guidelines in the UK.
“We’ve put screens in place, we’ve done a one-way system in the salon, we’ve prepared everything for the two metre distancing, we’ve staggered appointments, we’ve got sanitising stations,” she says.
“It just seems crazy that we have no guidelines of when we can open and what is going to be happening.”