New state guidelines may see some types of businesses open sooner than others

Gov. Brown to release final version of business guidelines Thursday

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Personal service businesses across Oregon are preparing, even anxious to reopen as Gov. Kate Brown begins to roll out the guidelines they need to meet before they can do so.

The guidelines include only serving clients who make appointments and having employees wear proper protective equipment, as well as removing unnecessary items like beverages, magazines and snacks.  

According to its owner, the Tangerine Salon in Bend receives about 55 calls a day from people trying to schedule appointments.

"You know what I have tons of people calling me like, ‘please do my hair,’” owner Rose Shea said Wednesday. “So I think people are ready."

Shea said her salon is prepared to open and continue to take steps to ensure customer safety. The salon plans to add new air filters and to open on Sundays, reserving that day for senior citizens. 

"It's going to be so nice to be back to work,” Shea said. "We love our clients, we miss our clients and just that energy to be around people. I can't wait for that. I'm so ready for that."

The governor's proposed guidelines would require personal service businesses to collect client information like customer names, contact information and the date and time customers had an appointment, for later contact tracing should COVID-19 exposures occur.

That's something Kaytie Kooistra, owner of Pink Poppy Nail Boutique, is willing to do to open her store, but she said some customers may not want to share their private information.

"I mean, they could have some personal things going on in their life where they wouldn't want their information shared, so I think it would be a very individual personalized decision,” Kooistra said. “But absolutely, if that's what is required to get back to work -- absolutely, yes."

The state is also working on guidelines for child care services, faith based organizations and restaurants. The governor’s office plans to release a final version of guidelines for businesses on Thursday.

In a media advisory late Wednesday, Gov. Kate Brown's office said, "Governor Kate Brown will be holding a press availability to introduce new guidance for counties and businesses as part of her framework for safely reopening Oregon. She will be joined by representatives from the Oregon Health Authority and the Governor's Medical Advisory Panel."

A live stream of the 11 a.m. news conference will be available for the public here.