COLOMBO, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan authorities on Wednesday said that beauty parlors and barbershops, which have remained closed in the country since March 20 due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, would be able to reopen accompanied by strict health guidelines, a statement released by the government information department said.
Despite businesses set to reopen in the high-risk districts including the capital city Colombo from May 11, which has been under a curfew since March 24, the statement said beauty parlors and hair salons would be issued new guidelines approved by the Director General of Health Services.
"Then they should arrange the salon structure and facilities to provide their services in line with the instructions given. After informing the Medical Officer of Health that the facilities and structure have been arranged, the Public Health Inspector in charge of the area will inspect these arrangements comparing with the checklist and provide his recommendations to the Medical Officer of Health," the statement said.
It is the only way to get approval.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in a statement on his official twitter, said Tuesday that curfew would be relaxed in the high-risk districts of Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara, on the outskirts of the capital, from May 11, but business owners are encouraged to operate on minimum staff while adhering to strict health regulations.
All public gatherings, celebrations, and festivals will continue to be banned while the public will be allowed to step out only to attend to work.
The COVID-19 pandemic has infected over 750 people in Sri Lanka to date while nine deaths have been reported. Enditem
