13 April 2021

This update covers:

  • Northern Ireland: click and collect retail now allowed.
  • Close contact services: reopening guidance updates.
  • Scotland: Business Gateway webinar for close contact businesses.
  • Lockdown dates across the four nations.

Northern Ireland: click and collect retail now allowed

Since yesterday, 12 April 2021, a controlled click and collect service has been allowed in Northern Ireland. Strict rules must be followed including, paying in advance and collection by appointment. Clients are not allowed inside your salon or barbershop. Find out more on the Northern Ireland Executive website. 

Close contact services: reopening guidance updates

Wales  

The Welsh guidance was updated on 9 April 2021. Key points include:

Staff 

For treatments that are not within the high-risk zone (the area directly in front of a client’s eyes, nose and mouth), staff must wear a Type II mask and clear visor. 

 For high-risk close contact treatments on the face, staff must wear a fluid-resistant surgical face mask (FRSM); goggles or a full-face visor; and disposable gloves and apron. 

Clients 

Clients must wear face coverings. Clients are only permitted to remove their face covering temporarily for high-risk close contact treatments on the face if the practitioner is wearing the correct grade PPE as detailed above.  

England has recently updated its guidance for close contact services. Mobile businesses should also follow the guidelines for working in other people’s homes. 

Scotland has recently updated its reopening guidance for close contact services (further updates may be made in the coming weeks) Scottish guidance. 

Northern Ireland has not yet updated its guidance. 

Scotland: Business Gateway webinar for close contact businesses 

Business Gateway is planning a webinar on how close contact businesses can safely reopen. Find out more and register. 

Lockdown dates across the four nations

England: ‘Personal care premises’ including hairdressers, salons and close contact services were allowed to open in step two of the roadmap on 12 April 2021. 

This includes mobile businesses. Mobile businesses should follow the guidance for working in other people’s homes as well as the England guidance.

 Saunas and steam rooms cannot open until step 3 of the roadmap which is due to start no earlier than 17 May, and at least five weeks after step 2. Find out more on the government website. Download a pdf of the full roadmap.  

Wales: All hair and beauty businesses, including mobile, were allowed to open from 12 April 2021. 

The latest Welsh guidance was updated on 9 April 2021. Mobile businesses must also follow the guidance for working in other people’s homes. 

Scotland: Hairdressers and barbers in Scotland were allowed to open on an appointment-only basis from 5 April 2021. 

All shops (including salons) can now offer click and collect-by-appointment retail services.

Beauty salons and mobile hair and beauty services cannot open yet. A further announcement is expected on 20 April 2021. 

The following will remain at level 3: 

  • Orkney.
  • Shetland.
  • The following islands within Argyll and Bute: Coll, Colonsay, Erraid, Gometra, Iona, Islay, Jura, Mull, Oronsay, Tiree, and Ulva.
  • All islands in Highland, with the exception of Skye.

In these areas:

  • Salons and barbershops can open.
  • Mobile hairdressing and barbering can operate.
  • Close contact services delivered from a salon, shop or other static site such as a home treatment room can operate. 
  • All other types of mobile close contact services including beauty are not permitted. 

Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland is under lockdown. The current regulations will be reviewed on 15 April 2021. 

 From 12 April, contactless click/phone and collect has been permitted for all non-essential retail businesses.

 Find out more on the Northern Ireland Executive website. 

Find out more about lockdowns across the four nations. 

See all updates