Opening of barber shops and whatnot

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SILLY, if not ridiculous decision.

While great efforts had been made to seek the people’s cooperation to observe social distancing, it baffles us as to why barbershops are permitted to operate, notwithstanding the ‘terms and conditions’.

Social distancing is one thing.

There are other implications, such as …

How do you cut hair without removing the face mask? Removing the face mask means potentially exposing the wearer to risks of infection. Don’t tell me how, but I know this ninja-like Covid-19 is ever desperate to look for a host … a victim, to be precise.

Most barber peripherals are shared, such as face towels, clippers, scissors, combs, lotions, and whatnots.

Do you know how much and what viruses are lurking and practising ‘stay at home’ in these combs, clippers, and towels?

Barber chairs may also be hosts to Covid-19 — spread by asymptomatic carriers among the customers. Only God knows where they have been and how they appear.

The small confined premises of most barber shops are hardly conducive for enforcing or practising social distancing.

I have yet to see customers sitting six feet apart in barber shops during normal days, even with long queues.

There’s usually a waiting time in view of the expected crowd — unwittingly encouraging unnecessary congregation of people who should be staying at home.

If people are banned from congregating in places of worship, why are we allowing them to congregate at barber shops?

Defies logic, doesn’t it?

I think prayer is more essential than a haircut.

Have all barbers been tested for Covid-19? What if there are asymptomatic carriers among the barbers or their assistants?

Sarawak need not follow this ridiculous directive from Putrajaya, which appears to be influenced more by the populist and political, rather than urgent health reasons.

All said, if people are allowed to visit barbers, it would be more value-added to allow people to go and exercise in parks on a controlled and managed basis — far easier than controlling them in confined barber shops.

Exercise is more value-added and healthier than cutting hair, which potentially poses a health threat.

I pray common sense and rationality will prevail for the better and greater  good.

The decision is obvious, if a survey is to be carried out, excluding the bald ones — to remove any element of bias.

WhatsApp group comments are generally not in favour of barber shops being opened during this critical period.

It puts all the earlier
efforts of encouraging people to stay at home on the backpedal.

If people are so desperate for haircuts, might as well allow online bookings of haircuts in the respective customer’s house compound. At least the dangers and risks could be mitigated.

That would be much safer and practical. There’s always a better solution for a win-win outcome.

Stay at home and save lives — not hair today but gone tomorrow.

Edmund Lee