In this case, the 84 exposed customers received services from the Great Clips hairdresser, said Clay Goddard, director of the Springfield-Greene County Health Department. In addition to the customers, seven employees were also informed of the exposure.
It is not clear when the stylist tested positive but the infection is believed to have occurred during the trip. The stylist worked from May 12 to Wednesday, health officials said Friday. At the time, companies such as barbers and hair salons could operate in the state.
“The individual and his clients wore face cover. The 84 directly exposed clients will be notified by the Department of Health and tests will be offered, as will seven colleagues,” said the Springfield-Greene County Health Department in a note. “The hope of the department is that since the face coatings were worn during this exposure timeline, no further cases will arise.”
Goddard did not provide details on the designer’s identity or condition. He said health officials contacted people who had been exposed, adding that the hairdresser had kept flawless records that made contact search possible.
But he warned of the risks of overwhelming resources.
“I am sincere with you: we cannot have many more,” he said at a press conference. “We cannot make it a regular habit or our abilities as a community will be severely tested.”
Health officials provided a detailed history of all the places the designer visited, including a local Dairy Queen, a Walmart and a CVS pharmacy.
They urged those who might have gone to those places to look for coronavirus symptoms.
Goddard said he was satisfied with the in-depth cleaning measures taken by Great Clips, adding that he now considers the company safe.
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