California Governor Gavin Newsom released new statewide reopening guidelines Friday that go into effect on Monday.
Counties will move through a four-tiered, color-coded system based on their virus cases and positive test rates. Businesses will be allowed to add more customers or expand services based on their county's tier.
While San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties are in the tier with the strictest business restrictions, the new state guidelines allow hair salons and barbershops to resume indoor operations.
Jessica Zerolis, owner of Masterpiece Hair Studio in Pismo Beach, is ready to reopen indoors.
"I’m very excited. I feel like it's about time. I mean, it's just been a really hard year," she said.
Since mid-July, Zerolis has had to operate in a small space right outside her front door that only allows one stylist to work each day.
She says her staff had to be cut significantly as well.
"Right now, there's going to be two of us operating Monday and hopefully all three of us on Tuesday and you know, just keep as busy as we can," Zerolis said.
She expects to be busy once she reopens again next week.
"Everybody needed "the works" so we were extra busy, so I anticipate the same thing again," she said.
Although hair salons and barbershops will be able to operate indoors, service at restaurants like Shell Beach Brewhouse has to remain outdoors until the county moves into the second tier, which will then allow them to operate at no more than 25 percent capacity.
"I think at least it's a little more clear path, Now we know what we have to do," said Shell Beach Brewhouse owner Billy Hayes.
He has learned to adapt many of his restaurants around the coast and says he's looking forward to re-opening indoor dining again in the future.
"The sooner we can get back to even 25 percent inside or 50 percent, I mean, that means the world so we just, you know, gotta knuckle down and do what we gotta do,” Hayes said.
According to Friday’s announcement shopping malls will also be allowed to re-open but only at 25 percent capacity.
San Luis Obispo County has given hair salons and barbershops the green light to reopen on Monday. Santa Barbara County says its health officials will be working throughout the weekend to issue a revised Health Officer Order that allows these businesses to resume operations.
