Kansas continues the official recovery process from coronavirus with Phase 1.5 now underway.
Phase 1.5 officially reopens the doors for hair and nail salons, barbershops, tanning salons and tattoo parlors to open for pre-scheduled appointments and online check-in patrons. Annette Taylor of Reflections Hair Salon says the adjustments, including locking the business to prevent people from walking in and everybody wearing masks, have gone better than she expected. The schedule filled up rapidly after Governor Laura Kelly announced the change. Taylor says her phone was “blowing up” after the announcement, but it was also busy beforehand.
Fitness centers and health clubs may re-open, although they can’t have in-person group classes and they can’t open locker rooms unless those are needed to access restrooms. Emporia Fitness is opening Tuesday evening after ongoing renovations. Owner Greg Bachman says, “we want to do everything right the first time.”
Restaurants, meanwhile, can have dine-in service so long as they maintain social distancing measures.
Taylor says she understands the delay in getting beauty-based businesses reopened, but she also says her business takes a range of precautions to keep both workers and patrons safe. She also says some of the financial hit will be offset with the current crush of business, but it won’t be totally offset or deferred.
Phase 1.5 keeps the doors closed — for at least the next two weeks — for bars and nightclubs unless they can offer curbside services, as well as non-tribal casinos, theaters, museums, indoor leisure spaces, community centers, outdoor swimming pools and large entertainment venues. Fairs, festivals, carnivals, parades, sports tournaments, games practices and summer camps remain off the calendar at this time.
On KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Monday, Lyon County Public Health Officer Renee Hively reminded residents to keep going with COVID-19 protections, including the wearing of masks in public and 6-foot distances between people.
Hively also encouraged business owners to call the COVID-19 Hotline at 620-208-3741 to get information about how they can best reopen as the pandemic continues. More information is available at www.publichealth.lyoncounty.org.
