Hair salons MUST close too due to coronavirus

Hair salons should be shut down as the nation tries to slow down the progression of the coronavirus outbreak, an MP has said.

The establishments, which see members of staff come ‘within the individuals’ personal space’, must go into lockdown to help the country cope with the virus’ spread the minister warned. 

The suggested moves comes just days after the Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all pubs, bars and restaurants in the UK to go into lockdown in an effort to stay ahead of the curve on coronavirus infections. 

Now, the Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale David Morris, believes the government must add hairdressing businesses to the list of closed venues. 

The politician, who previously owned six hairdressing establishments, told The Sun: ‘Hairdressers don’t wear gloves when cutting hair. It’s impossible to do so.

‘They touch other people on average 1,000 times per haircut.

‘They are within the individuals’ personal space.’ 

The member of parliament added that while he did not wish to see the establishments shut down, it was in the interest of the nation that they do in a bid to slow down the spread of the illness. 

On Friday, the Prime Minister told a press conference that he would be closing down social premises, including pubs, bars, restaurants, to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

He added that theatres, cinemas, sports centres and gyms must also shut ‘as soon as they reasonably can and not to reopen tomorrow’.

He told the conference at Downing Street: ‘I know it has been difficult … but these actions we are taking together are helping to take the strain off the NHS.

‘The speed of our eventual recovery depends entirely on our collective ability to get on top of the virus now and that means we have to take the next steps on scientific advice.

‘And following our plan we are strengthening the measures announced on Monday. We need now to push down further on that curve of transmission between us.

‘And so following agreement with all the … devolved administrations, we are collectively telling cafes, pubs, bars and restaurants to close tonight as soon as they reasonably can and not to open tomorrow.

‘We’re also telling nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres to close on the same timescale.’ 

Following Mr Johnson’s announcement  shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: ‘We welcome Boris Johnson’s decision to shut pubs, restaurants & other venues.

‘We have been increasingly concerned that the social distancing measures needed were not being followed which is why we called for this earlier. We all have to adjust our behaviour to defeat this virus.’  

The latest calls come after it was announced that the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK had risen to 281 and the number of cases had now hit 5,683. 

The surge comes as Mr Johnson urged families to stay away from each other even if they thought they were ‘personally invulnerable’ as there are ‘plenty of people you can infect’.

Speaking to the public today he said: ‘Even if you think you are personally invulnerable, there are plenty of people you can infect.

‘Take this advice seriously. Follow it. Because it is absolutely crucial.

‘We will keep the implementation of these measures under review… and of course we will bring forward further measures if it is necessary.’