After strong protests and a series of representations, the Maharashtra government on Sunday amended its order on new restrictions, allowing beauty salons and gyms to operate at 50 per cent capacity. The government, in its order on Saturday, had said that beauty salons and gyms would remain shut.
“Beauty salons shall be grouped with hair cutting salons and shall be allowed to remain open at 50 per cent capacity, subject to restrictions applicable for hair-cutting salons. In these establishments, only those activities that do not require the removal of masks by anyone shall be allowed. Only fully vaccinated persons shall be allowed to use these services. All the staff engaged in operation shall be fully vaccinated,” said State Chief Secretary Debashish Chakrabarty in the amended order.
Beauty salons will however, have to adhere to strict Covid-appropriate behaviour.
Founder of ‘Seven A One’ beauty salon Archana Khope claimed that most beauty salons were in a delicate financial state because of the pandemic-induced lockdowns in the first and second wave. “Salons were expecting a revival but with the government’s move allowing them to now function only at 50 per cent capacity, their finances will further deteriorate as most of them are unable to bear the payment of rent and staff wages. The government needs to allow beauty salons to function at full capacity as they are strictly following Covid norms and will continue to do so,” she claimed.
Further, the state government has allowed gyms to remain open, also at 50 per cent capacity, subject to the use of masks while performing any activity. Only fully vaccinated persons shall be allowed to use these services and all the staff engaged in operation shall be fully vaccinated, said the government order.
Founder of India Active, an all-India gym owners’ association, Prabodh Davkhare said after the gyms were reopened, nearly 50 to 60 per cent people were back. “Now with new restrictions, 50 per cent capacity will have to be maintained and it will become difficult for gyms to survive. But there is an old saying that something is better than nothing. The government should focus on social distancing, rather than 50 per cent occupancy. Gyms are very imperative for boosting immunity. Most gyms will be on the verge of closure with these new curbs,” he cautioned.
