A Margaret River salon owner has pleaded with fellow hair stylists to close their doors, and says the social distancing requirements do nothing to keep salon attendees and staff safe.
Sharon MacDonald told the Mail she was disappointed the Federal government had not removed the trade from the 'essential services' category.
"I'm not sure why the other salons are still operating. It was the hardest decision but the right decision for our community.
"We have blow-driers potentially blowing microflora of the virus meters within the salon space and blowing onto all other clients that are sitting the required two metres away or even more," Mrs MacDonald said.
"We touch their face all day, it lives in hair for hours, we can't avoid the virus when a client sneezes or coughed as it travels for great lengths.
"We can't move quick enough away from the sneeze or the cough and therefore will contract the virus and pass it on to the next client and so on and so on, without showing any symptoms as it takes 2 to 14 days to reveal itself!
"[Clients] then leave the salon and spread the virus out to our community."
Last week, the Prime Minister announced the relaxing of a previously introduced 30 minute time limit on hair appointments.
After pressure from the industry, the decision was made to allow longer appointments, with stylists and clients required to stick to the indoor spacing requirements.
Just Cuts Australia chief executive Denis McFadden said it was physically impossible for stylists to do their job while observing the four square metre per person rule.
Mrs MacDonald said the decision to keep salons open was wholly economical.
"There are currently 66,000 hairdressers and the government will have to pay the coronavirus entitlements to each of them," she said.
The business owner said she was grateful to her landlord for "helping considerably" with her rent while the business is temporarily closed, and said serious action needed to be taken to save the region's businesses.
"Other landlords need to follow her lead and help the businesses in Margaret River," she said.
"Businesses have already suffered financially due to the roadworks and now this, they will fold and we won't have a township if the landlords don't give their tenants a 100 per cent rent reduction during this pandemic.
"The Shire also need to give a 100 per cent rate reduction for the landlords so the landlords can pass the rate reduction onto us business owners.
"If they don't, say goodbye to Margaret River as we know it.
"We have no tourists, we have no income and now we should be closing due to our health of our clients, so how do the businesses pay their rent, mortgages et cetera?"
Mrs MacDonald said while she was concerned for her business, her focus was on the health of her family and her community.
"I love our community and I adore my clients and that's why I closed.
"I could not live myself if I spread this virus and someone died of the result of this.
"I am doing ok for now personally. But who knows how long we will be placed in this situation?
"I will be back in the salon and doing what I love, and fixing all the bad home hair jobs!"
Hair salons in the United Kingdom and New Zealand have been shut down.
Nicky Lefebvre
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
I am a journalist, photographer and content creator based in the beautiful Margaret River wine region, covering all aspects of our community including local news, sport, entertainment and events, as well as providing a platform for our readers to share their voices direct from regional Australia.
