California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Tuesday that 47 of the state’s 58 counties can reopen barbershops and hair salons, although Los Angeles County, its highest-populated, is not among them.
Newsom, speaking Tuesday in his daily press briefing, said the qualifying counties will be allowed to reopen with safety precautions, including requiring protective gear and face coverings. Official guidance on the process is pending.
The governor said California is also developing statewide guidelines for other close-contact services, including nail salons. California expects to release separate guidelines for schools, child care facilities and summer camps Wednesday, and Newsom said guidance for the entertainment industry is still under discussion.
In his update, Newsom also said that in the last two weeks, the state has seen a 6.7 percent drop in hospitalizations, but a 0.6 percent increase in the number of intensive care unit patients.
Despite the continuing relaxation of restrictions, Newsom said residents should continue practicing physical distancing whenever possible and wear masks in scenarios where it’s not.
“The reality is, this has just begun,” Newsom said. “It hasn’t ended. And while we are moving forward because of stabilization, because of the good work that’s been done by health officials all across this nation, all across the state of California specifically to suppress the spread of this virus, by no stretch of the imagination is this virus behind us.”
Shortly after announcing the reopening, Newsom tweeted an image of his children preparing to cut his hair, adding, “Praying I don’t end up looking like Gov. Exotic.”