Local health department announced that no new COVID-19 cases were found after two hairstylists who tested positive for coronavirus potentially exposed 140 customers and seven co-workers.
Both stylists worked at the same Great Clips location in Springfield, Missouri for more than a week in mid-May.
Springfield-Greene County Health Department alerted the public of the potential exposure to the two hairstylists who were both symptomatic and were wearing face coverings while working between May 12 and May 20.
Director of Health Clay Goddard stressed out the “value of masking” to avoid contracting the disease from that exposure.
“We are studying more closely the details of these exposures, including what types of face coverings were worn and what other precautions were taken to lead to this encouraging result,” he said in a statement.
“We never want an exposure like this to happen, but this situation will greatly expand our understanding of how this novel coronavirus spreads.”
The salon had set up measures such as social distancing of chairs and staggered appointments, and the clients and stylists all wore face coverings.
Out of the 140 clients and seven co-workers who were potentially exposed, 46 took tests that came back negative while the rest were quarantined for the duration of the coronavirus incubation period.
Springfield-Green County Health Department spokesperson Kathryn Wall said that those who were not tested received a call twice a day from health officials asking whether they had symptoms related to Covid-19.
Great Clips Inc. released a statement in response to the health department’s announcement.
“Today, we learned from the Springfield-Greene County Health Department that all customers who were tested for COVID-19 after visiting a franchised Great Clips salon in Springfield have confirmed negative test results.
Together with our 1,100 independent franchisees, we care deeply about the well-being of customers, salon staff and the communities we serve, and we are grateful for the health of these individuals. We thank the health department for their important work during this time.
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The Great Clips location where the exposure happened is temporarily closed until further notice.