Gov. Ducey orders barbers, salons to close by April 4

PHOENIX - Gov. Doug Ducey has ordered barbers and salons to close by April 4, under newly released guidance on essential services.

According to the statement, the following services are to close by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, if they haven't closed already.

• Barbers 
• Cosmetology, Hairstyling, Nail Salons and Aesthetic Salons 
• Tanning salons
• Tattoo parlors
• Spas
• Massage parlors

In the statement, officials with the Governor's Office say the businesses have to close, because they cannot comply with the guidelines required in the state's stay-at-home order.

In addition, communal pools, swap meets, and amenities at public parks that do not allow for recommended physical distancing or proper hygiene will need to close by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Gov. Ducey issued a stay-at-home order that took effect at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday. According to the executive order, the stay-at-home order, officially titled as a "Stay home, Stay healthy, Stay connected" policy, asks Arizonans to limited their time away from their home.

"Stay home, stay healthy and stay connected," Gov. Ducey said at the time.

The executive order has listed a number of activities that are exempt from the order. In addition, a number of business categories are considered to be essential, such as gas stations and grocery stores.

Experts have criticized Arizona's stay-at-home order.

"This is a shelter in place or social distancing order in name only, which is putting millions of people in Arizona at risk," said Dr. Gregg Gonsalves, commenting on Arizona's stay-at-home order.

Gov. Ducey repeatedly said during a town hall broadcast on more than 80 radio and TV stations Thursday night that salons and barbershops were not included in his list of essential services that can remain open.

“If they’re looking for cover under one of our categories, they’re going to have to be able to demonstrate that they can exercise social distancing or some other type of protective measure,” Ducey said.

Businesses react to recent events differently

Prior to Friday's guidance, some salons have already closed. FOX 10 spoke with the owner of a hair salon in Apache Junction on Wednesday.

"We work in close proximity with our clients," said Leyna Negron with A Bit of Bliss Day Spa. "We share breathing space. I’m doing nails, and sometimes my client spit on me when they were talking, and I do not have enough masks for every client that comes to the door. If I were to get infected, I don’t know how many clients I would infect."

Some other salons, however, are struggling with whether to close up or not prior to the announcement on Friday. These businesses have been living on the razor's edge, especially after Thursday night's COVID-19 town hall.

Now, the new guidance is giving people like Tony Starks certainty.

"It’s good that he did it that way but it’s really scary," said Starks with Executive Men's Grooming.

Starks and his workers already wear gloves and masks, and they clean constantly. It is hard, however, to stay six feet away while cutting a customer's hair.

"I touch people for a living all day. It’s impossible to make that work," said Starks.

For some Arizonans, the clock is ticking to get a new haircut. It will be their lasft haircut for a while.

"So go see your barber, hair stylist today and be generous. We all get through this but it’s scary," said Starks.

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