My dentist was open for business Friday of last week (May 29th)..my Barber isn't allowed open until July 20th. This was reiterated by the CMO at Fridays press conference. Would someone kindly explain the 'higher' risk element associated with Barbers. I do accept that dentistry services would be 'one on one' whereas the barber shop might have a greater number of customers on the premises but this could be easily managed with screening etc.
The scenario at the Barbers would be the customer wearing a face mask and the barber for the most part standing behind you..in my opinion little risk !!
At the Dentists the patient is sitting with their mouth open. The dentist is also far closer to your open mouth than the barber .. and what about the amount of 'gagging, sloshing, swirling and spitting' involved in the procedure.
It a bit like the previous scenario where you could buy Homeware Products in a Hardware shop, but Homeware shops were required to remain closed. Also you could buy clothes in Dunnes or Tesco because they remained open due to their 'food outlet'
The discount chain 'Dealz' remained open as they claimed they were in the 'food' business. I don't think half a dozen sandwiches in a fridge constituted 'food' business.
When the dust settles and the procedures put in place for the 'lockdown' are reviewed it will become clear how unfair it was for certain sectors. ( I am speaking specifically business here)
With the changes to the re-opening phases, the country will be fully open on June 29th with very few exceptions. Pubs serving food will open on June 29th ( I can see former 'food free' pubs ordering their toasted sandwich machines already and maybe throw in a deep fat fryer for good measure)... Social distancing will 'fade away' in a very short period and life will go back to normal or life will go back to the 15th March !!!
Let's hope it's not the latter....