Task Force: Let wives cut your hair

MANILA, Philippines — Men who really want to have their hair cut should look to stylists very close to home: their wives.

This was the advice of Vince Dizon, deputy chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 response, as he revealed that the government is still not allowing the re-opening of barber shops because social distancing, which is part of the measures being implemented to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is impossible to observe and implement.

It may sound funny, he said in an interview with The Chiefs over One News, but the measure not to allow the re-opening of barber shops and other similar establishments was borne out of its danger in further spreading the virus.

“There was a decision on that. The barber shops will remain closed, unfortunately. But our wives can do our haircut,” Dizon said.

“I think we need to explain this to the public. I know it might sound funny, but barber shop is one of the areas where you cannot avoid close contact with the consumer and the (service) provider such as manicure, pedicure and massage. It is really very dangerous,” he pointed out.

Dizon cited that in advanced countries, such as the US, barber shops topped the list where a high transmission rate of COVID-19 was recorded.

“Barber shops top the list of high transmission in New York. You cannot expect physical distancing in barber shops because (the proximity) between the consumer and the service provider is very close. You cannot have physical distancZing while you are having your hair cut, that is why we have to keep them closed in the meantime,” he added.

He believes that the COVID-19 problem will not go away in the next two years.

“We need to get used to it but I’m not saying that barber shops will not open in two years. We just have to make the adjustments slowly and surely,” Dizon said.