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2 Hair Stylists Had COVID-19: How Many of Their 139 Clients Got It?
July 17, 2020
What would it take to convince non-believers that wearing a mask stops the spread of COVID-19?
Maybe an appointment back in May at Great Clips in Springfield, Mo., where two hair stylists infected with COVID-19 spent at least 15 minutes and as long as 45 minutes, up close, with 139 clients. Yet not one of the clients reported symptoms. Of the 139 clients, 67 agreed to be tested. None tested positive.
No medical miracle here. The two stylists, and clients, followed local health regulations and company policy by wearing masks.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which documented the case in its July 17 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, highlighted the results as a lesson for the nation.
“Broader implementation of face-covering policies,” it said in the report, “could mitigate the spread of infection in the general population.”
The first stylist developed respiratory symptoms May 12, then worked eight days until testing positive for COVID-19. The second stylist developed respiratory symptoms May 15 and worked five more days until getting tested. Two days later, the test returned positive.
The salon closed for three days to disinfect frequently touched and contaminated areas.
The county health department used contact tracing, says the CDC, to identify the 139 exposed clients and their secondary contacts.
The clients were asked to self-quarantine. Although no clients tested positive, four members of one stylist’s family tested positive.
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