Close contact facial treatments in Manchester cannot resume was announced yesterday (15 August 2020). Amidst the current COVID-19 pandemic, according to a local councillor, Manchester which is where I practice facial aesthetic treatments is the second-highest, in terms of infection rate in the UK. Oldham has the highest rate of infections as yet.
A total of 18 areas: City of Manchester; Trafford; Stockport; Oldham, Bury, Wigan, Bolton, Tameside, Rochdale, Salford, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Preston, Rossendale, Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees are still under local lockdown with Wigan having the lowest recorded figures. I was surprised to hear that close contact facial treatments in Altrincham, Hale and Timperley will not resume as their borough council is classed as Trafford and are under lockdown.
Local restrictions include the following sectors; Theatres, bowling alleys, wedding receptions, casinos, close-contact facial treatments, indoor play areas, skating rinks, indoor performances, exhibition centres and conference halls. I love how close contact facial treatments are among the other group activities (excluding, pubs, bars and restaurants – or takeaways that are small and have never locked down yet are crammed with people wanting to be served).
More information on local restrictions, including the mention of close contact facial treatments, as specified on the government website can be found here.
More information on what the MEN are saying can be found here.
I returned to work on the 15th of July for body treatments, which do not constitute a business model. I never thought it would be illegal for close contact facial treatments to be carried out, the services that pay my bills. In effect, it is illegal for me to earn a living in the current pandemic.
Close contact facial treatments, however, can be carried out by opticians, orthodontists, nurses administering Botox under the pretence of mental health essential requirements, hairdressers trimming a fringe, barbers that are shaving beards, beauticians that are ignoring practice, beauticians who work for owners who are on boards with government advisory organisations. I know that you have probably read online, where is the science and reasoning behind any of this?
I have only now completely understood how it feels to be disadvantaged living in the UK, discriminated for the area that I live in and the business industry sector that close contact facial treatments fall under non-regulation since 2010.
Prior to writing this, I emailed Jeff Smith MP for some sort of help with resuming close contact facial treatments, I have to try. During this period, I will not quit! I will endeavour to plan our survival and use my time efficiently. Although this has been a big task to think about, I remember that there is always someone looking down on me and this is simply a trial (however unfair) that like many others we have to get through.
If any of you are suffering from the same predicament with not being able to administer close contact facial treatments and need support, please feel free to reach out to me on twitter @nadiahasanie.
Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts on this situation.