During the state's COVID-19 press briefing today, Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted announced that tattoo and piercing shops and state-licensed massage therapists, acupuncturists and cosmetic therapists will be allowed to reopen on May 15. That is the same day that outdoor dining and hair salons and barber shops can reopen — all while following their respective sector-specific guidelines according to the Responsible RestartOhio Plan.
NEW: Massage locations and tattoos/piercing businesses will be permitted to reopen with proper safety protocols on May 15th. #ResponsibleRestartOhio pic.twitter.com/3pq00E5I0P
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) May 12, 2020
Many have been waiting for this announcement.
On May 10, Walnut Hills' White Whale Tattoo posted to their Facebook, "Governor Mike DeWine can you please set a date for tattoo studios? We are certified experts at sanitation, have much less traffic than salons, can easily have gatherings of ten or less, and are even much safer than going to the dentist. Many rely on our services for self-care, beauty, and therapy; often to grieve the loss of a loved one. We are of the last remaining providers of ritual and rites of passage. Our artists are independent contractors, with families, and struggling to get by. We appreciate your leadership thus far and now ask for a solid and rational game plan."
Lt. Gov. Husted today said the initial hold-up for allowing tattoo shops and massage therapists to reopen at the same time as other personal care services like salons was because they are regulated differently by the state medical board and Ohio Department of Health. Those issues have since been resolved and those services are now allowed to reopen.
Here are the extensive guidelines for massage therapists, acupuncturists and cosmetic therapists, which include but aren't limited to adhering to social distancing regulations except during direct client and therapist sessions; the rule that employees must wear "a gown, apron, or, lab coat if a procedure will allow the client’s body to contact the employee’s clothing;" the disposal of single-use materials between clients; and accurate record keeping of everyone who has an appointment or service to help with any contact tracing.
The sector-specific operating requirements for tattoo and piercing parlors have not been posted to the health department's website yet, but some tattoo shops are already posting about their COVID-19 protection plans.
We are excited to announce that tattoo and piercing will resume normal business hours this Friday, May 15th! While we...
Posted by Beelistic Tattoo West on Tuesday, May 12, 2020