MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Some Shelby County municipalities will be reopening faster than originally planned after Gov. Bill Lee laid out requirements for businesses to reopen.
On Monday, all restaurants and retail stores will be allowed to reopen, allowing people inside as long as the business follows certain requirements.
Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Manoj Jain says people will still need to practice social distancing as they re-enter society.
“We do not want an exponential rise and that’s entirely possible if the public realizes we’re not going to go back to the same old ways of doing things,” Dr. Jain said.
However, four municipalities are allowing more businesses to open.
Starting this week, Bartlett, Millington, Arlington and Collierville will be letting hair and nail salons open under guidance of the governor.
Jessica Childs, a Memphis salon owner and stylist, says she’s frustrated.
She says her salon, Styling Castle, has been closed for five weeks. It’s about a five minute drive from Bartlett and she’s nervous she will lose clients.
“As loyal as they are to me, if I can’t do it, they’re going to go somewhere else,” Childs said. “So, even if they come back to me in 6 weeks when I open in two weeks, what does that do for me?”
Director of the Shelby County Health Department Dr. Alisa Haushalter said, on Friday, personal care businesses did not receive approval to reopen.
A spokesman for Gov. Bill Lee says the decision is up to the Shelby County Health Department and County Mayor Lee Harris.
“I think they need to come up with a mutual agreement,” Childs said.
Child’s believes salons are able to limit the spread of COVID-19 by limiting the number of clients, wearing protective gear and keeping all styling tools sanitized.
WREG reached out to Mayor Harris’ office for comment but we have not heard back.
