December 12th, 2020
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello today announced free rapid COVID-19 testing for barbers, hair stylists and other personal care service employees in the Monroe County orange cluster zone. This free rapid COVID-19 testing will be available by appointment or walk-up on Sunday, December 13, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Irondequoit Department of Public Works, 2629 E. Ridge Rd, Rochester, NY 14622.
“As soon as we heard our orange zone barber shops and hair salons were permitted to resume operating, I wanted to make sure we did everything we could to support their reopening as quickly as possible. So many of these individuals are small business owners or independent contractors and need to be operational to provide a living for themselves and their families,” said County Executive Bello. “I want to thank Irondequoit Town Supervisor Dave Seeley and the staff at the Irondequoit Public Works Department for their partnership and helping stand this facility up so quickly.”
Personal care services, such as beauty salons and barber shops, previously had to close in the orange zone designated area in Monroe County, including the city of Rochester, and towns of Brighton, Gates, Greece and Irondequoit. Under New York State’s new COVID-19 guidance, these facilities are now permitted to reopen on Monday, December 14, 2020. However, New York State has required all personal care service employees who will be providing service to obtain a negative COVID-19 test result prior to opening.
“Our contact tracing has consistently shown that, with proper precautions in place, barbershops and salons are not contributing to community spread of COVID-19. By implementing measures such as testing, face covering, limiting capacity and frequent sanitation, these businesses are able to keep their patrons and staff safe. This is the right thing to do from both a public health and an economic standpoint,” said Dr. Michael Mendoza, Commissioner of Public Health.
Monroe County employees and trained staff will be on hand to operate this facility. The Irondequoit DPW location currently serves as a community rapid COVID-19 testing site, and is fully operational and functionally equipped.
Greater Rochester Chamber President and CEO and Special Advisor to the Governor for Reopening Bob Duffy said, “The Governor has proven time and again to be receptive to input, and we greatly appreciate his decision to allow gyms and salons to reopen in ‘Orange’ zones. The data supports it and leaders like County Executive Bello played a significant role in conveying the information necessary to make it happen. From early distribution of PPE and grants for businesses in need, to now mobilizing a rapid testing effort for the personal care community, County Executive Bello has been remarkably responsive to the obstacles posed by this pandemic.”
“From providing PPE to our residents and schools, financial assistance to those facing eviction or foreclosure, grant money to our small businesses and so much more, we’ve proven throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that Monroe County government is here to help. We recognize the difficulty of finding rapid COVID-19 testing in our community and want to do everything we can to ensure our personal care services can reopen as quickly and safely as possible,” concluded Bello.
Any personal care service employee seeking to pre-register for an appointment can do so at www.monroecounty.gov/healthcalls/register/index/salon-hair.
