How safe is an enclosed room?

[Maidofdishonour]

My hairdresser has a garden office unit as her salon. It’s pretty cosy, one chair, one sink etc. Hairdresser wears a mask and everyone has their temperature taken and sanitises their hands. All equipment is wiped down between clients. I arrived today and the person before me hadn’t worn a mask as they are exempt. The room is not ventilated other then when the door opens to let one person out and the next person in.
How safe do you consider this to be if a client doesn’t wear a mask and has been in the enclosed room for about an hour?

Surely not very - isn’t there a window she can open? I wouldn’t have thought it would be allowed as an office/salon without one?

She should leave the door open really.

Not very, you need ventilation. Its pretty low risk to you by virtue of the fact that the person before you is statistically unlikely to have it, but the hairdresser is at risk as all those clients add up!!

I’m quite relaxed about things but I wouldn’t like that even if the previous client had worn a mask.

I did suggest that she left the door open but she assured me that the previous client didn’t have Covid. She also said that she is following guidelines by wearing PPE and sanitising.
My chiropractor has a similar set up and he isn’t ventilating the room either. I feel as though I am making a fuss as they say that everyone else is fine with it

Maybe everyone else is fine with it. Doesn't mean they are right!

I'm in an unventilated classroom all day with up to 120 young people. Apparently that's fine so I'm sure you'll be OK.

@Perfect28

I'm in an unventilated classroom all day with up to 120 young people. Apparently that's fine so I'm sure you'll be OK.

That’s terrifying Perfect. My teacher friends are all freezing because the local school insists on having the windows open. This was partly why I am posting. I thought the guidelines are that ventilation is required

My hairdresser doesn’t have any ventilation. Only wears a visor. No one wears masks. I wear one, but they think it’s hilarious. Not so keen on going back.

It's the most risky situation.

I'm in an unventilated classroom all day with up to 120 young people. Apparently that's fine so I'm sure you'll be OK.
That’s not in any way ok. What does your school risk assessment say about it? Or your union? We’re all freezing in my school, for good reason.

One room I use doesn't have any windows so that's not an option anyway, in the other I'm in its another teacher's room and they never open the windows. When I do, they promptly get closed again. School advice is 'open them as much as is reasonable'. However, even if they said open them all the time, nobody is coming round to check.

Wow please excuse mistakes in that post, very sleepy!

No, I would not be happy with that! This article explains very well why not!

english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-28/a-room-a-bar-and-a-class-how-the-coronavirus-is-spread-through-the-air.html

This chart might help you risk assess, OP.

Not very if the door was left open.

I'm going to watch the local hairdressers and see if any leave their doors open later this week. I might risk it then.

I'm desperate for a hair cut and leg wax but won't risk a closed room. I need a mobile beautician and hairdresser who'll come round and do it under a gazebo in the garden. I'm beyond caring what the neighbours think.

wasn't left open.

I didn’t feel safe in either scenario. I appreciate they have businesses to run and they have lost much of their income this year which may impair their judgement

@Maidofdishonour

My hairdresser has a garden office unit as her salon. It’s pretty cosy, one chair, one sink etc. Hairdresser wears a mask and everyone has their temperature taken and sanitises their hands. All equipment is wiped down between clients. I arrived today and the person before me hadn’t worn a mask as they are exempt. The room is not ventilated other then when the door opens to let one person out and the next person in. How safe do you consider this to be if a client doesn’t wear a mask and has been in the enclosed room for about an hour?

I have just had to have tradesmen in for urgent works. They were in a room with a window and outside door. I had both open. They partly wore masks but not constantly. I aired the room for about 3 hours afterwards. The guidance I could find advised 2 hours. I don't think that yabu. And I believe that issues like this are why the advice was long gaps between client visits.

In your shoes, I'd not be returning to either the hairdresser or chiropractor.

The guidelines tend to be quite woolly by saying ‘increase ventilation’ and suggest opening a window. I think they rely on common sense but it’s getting difficult as the weather gets colder

If she can't leave the door open (and I don't see why not) she should "flush" the room between clients, and leave enough of a gap to allow this.

She could also see the client who can’t wear a mask as the last client of the day.

I’m honestly surprised she sees them at all though, legal exemptions are less generous where I live and salon services, a non-essential, without a mask are simply not available because of the risk to the provider.

english.elpais.com/society/2020-10-28/a-room-a-bar-and-a-class-how-the-coronavirus-is-spread-through-the-air.html

It would be much safer if she was refreshing the air regularly.

she assured me that the previous client didn’t have Covid

That comment alone would make me lose faith in her grasp on the situation as it is extremely unlikely she could have known that.

I have had to go to lots of medical appointments in unventilated rooms since covid arrived, but for a discretionary appointment like hairdressing I would hesitate. Could you try and get the first appointment of the day?

Any idiot who assured you the previous client didn't have COVID should be avoided, because they will not be taking the guidance seriously.

I would NOT risk that for a haircut.

I ended up in a closed room last week for a Gp appointment, I ended up with two Drs and me in a pretty small room. No window open, all wearing masks, but the jr Dr wasn't wearing hers properly. I was pretty worried about what they were saying at the time (basal cell carcinoma) & it wasn't until afterwards that I had a bit of a panic - I have to go to the hospital this week and I know it'll be the same there consultant & nurse. I'm not happy, especially as it's a 'hot hospital' and I'm Clinically very vulnerable, but I need to see the specialist. 🙇🏻‍♀️

No way for a hair cut!! I'd have asked her to cut it in the garden. I'm currently trimming my own.