Coronavirus: Second hairdresser at Missouri salon tests positive, exposing almost 150 people

All clients and stylists were wearing face masks, hopefully minimising risk of transmission

A second hairstylist at a Missouri salon has tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number of people exposed to the virus up to 147.

On Friday, authorities in the city of Springfield said 91 people were at risk of contracting Covid-19 after a stylist worked for more than a week with symptoms.

Of the 91, 84 for were clients of the Great Clips salon, and seven were employees.

An additional 56 clients have now been “potentially directly exposed” according to city officials after it was revealed that a second stylist has worked for five days with symptoms.

The second employee is currently the only person to test positive from the initial exposure. All clients and stylists were wearing face masks, hopefully minimising the risk of transmission.

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The local health department is contacting all those potentially exposed and will offer them tests for Covid-19.

Hair salons were allowed to reopen when Missouri loosened restrictions on which businesses could operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

A statement from Great Clips reads: “Both stylists are following medical advice and taking appropriate actions, and the local health department notified individuals who came in close contact with those stylists.

“The franchise owners have closed the salon to undergo additional sanitisation and deep cleaning, consistent with guidance from health officials.”

The city of Springfield’s health department is also dealing with other Covid-19 cases in which individuals visited a Walmart, a Dollar General store, and restaurants.

Springfield is an hour and a half drive from Lake of the Ozarks where dozens of people were filmed partying in a pool over the Memorial Day weekend in defiance of social distancing rules.

Much of Missouri reopened on 4 May under relatively lenient statewide orders, but local governments can impose stricter rules if they want. Schools remain closed, retail businesses must limit the number of customers, and restaurants can reopen dine-in services if they employ social distancing measures.

Missouri has 11,752 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and has officially recorded 676 deaths.