A beauty salon will be visited by Merseyside Police officers today after they displayed a posted denying the existence of coronavirus and telling customers that they do not have to wear face masks while inside.
Now businesses and customers across Sefton are being reminded about the importance of following the Government’s Covid-19 guidance, which includes the distancing, cleaning and face-covering measures required to help keep clients and staff safe.
The action is being taken with new rules set to come into force on Monday which will ban gatherings of more than six people.
The Government is making its first reversal of the easing of lockdown measures after a rise in coronavirus cases over the past three days.
Today, Merseyside Police officers and Sefton Council environmental health officers will be visiting Skin Kerr Aesthetics, Hair and Beauty, in Bootle, after owners displayed a poster in their window denying the existence of coronavirus and telling customers they do not have to wear face masks.
The business also hared the notice on its Facebook page, which has since been deleted.
The poster, stuck to the salon window with masking tape, had bullet points saying: ‘Covid Free Salon; no masks, we take cash; Covid talk is banned; you can’t catch what doesn’t exist.’
The bullet points end with ‘#voodoovirusisbullsh**’ and ‘#wedonotconsent’ and states ‘please respect the rules of the salon’.
Under rules designed to limit the spread of the disease, hairdressers and salon staff are required to wear surgical face masks as well as clear visors.
Hairdressers and barbershops restarted on July 4, and from August 15 close contact beauty services, including facials and eyebrow treatments were opened.
Around 1,117 people have died of Covid-19 in Merseyside hospitals, with more than 150 deaths at Southport Hospital, with many more deaths recorded in care homes and in other community facilities.
Sefton Council’s Environmental Health team will be visiting the salon today to ensure that the measures to protect the business’s customers and employees from the virus are in place.
Cllr Paulette Lappin Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services said: “Once our Environmental Health team was made aware of this disappointing situation, we contacted the owner of the company and have arranged a visit today. We will be meeting with the owner on Wednesday morning.
“If the situation cannot be resolved satisfactorily during this meeting, and we are not satisfied that measures to keep customers and staff safe are in place, we will consider taking formal enforcement action.”
Skin Kerr Aesthetics, Hair and Beauty, in Bootle, displayed a poster in its window denying the existence of coronavirus and telling customers they do not have to wear face masks.
Merseyside Police officers will be attending the salon today to speak to the staff and owner to make sure they are aware of their responsibilities.
Sefton Council is reminding local businesses and their customers of the importance of following the Government’s Covid-19 guidance, which includes social distancing, cleaning and face-covering measures required to help keep clients and staff safe.
For customers, this means following any of the measures in place for their protection and making sure they provide any Test and Trace information requested on arrival.
Cllr Ian Moncur, Sefton Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, said: “As well as protecting individual businesses and their customers, these measures are there to support the whole economy by helping to reduce the possibility of a wider Covid-19 outbreak and the potential need to introduce local restrictions, which would have a negative effect on everyone.”
Sefton Community Policing Superintendent Graeme Robson said: “My officers will be visiting the salon to speak to the staff and manager and reminding them of their continued responsibilities around Covid-19 and the safety and wellbeing of their staff and customers.
“We will also be linking in with colleagues in the Environmental Health team at Sefton Council.
“We continue to remind the public and our local businesses that they should be continuing to follow the current Government guidance around social distancing, face coverings and Test and Trace.”
Sefton Council’s Environmental Health team has been working with businesses across the Borough to help them put in place the measures needed to keep employees and customers safe.
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