Great Clips in Springfield area temporarily closed after coronavirus-related threats
Great Clips salons in the Springfield, Missouri, area received “repeated threats” after two hairstylists tested positive for COVID-19, potentially exposing the virus to dozens of clients, the company said.
In a statement, Great Clips, Inc. said the local franchisees decided to temporarily close salons in the area to “protect the safety of everyone.”
The franchisees were working with officials as police investigated the threats, the company said.
Jasmine Bailey, a spokeswoman for the Springfield Police Department, said officers have taken two recent reports from Great Clips about harassment. The first came in Saturday and the second was reported Wednesday.
An employee received threats on Facebook and by phone, one report said. The other described a man calling and threatening one store, Bailey said.
The cases are being actively investigated, police said. No one has been arrested.
The recent threat came days after the Springfield-Greene County Health Department said a second stylist at the 1864 S. Glenstone Ave. salon tested positive for coronavirus and worked from May 16 to May 20 while experiencing mild symptoms. The stylist potentially exposed 56 clients.
A hairdresser at the same location who tested positive for the virus had served 84 clients and exposed seven co-workers, the department said Friday. That stylist also went to a Walmart, Dairy Queen and a fitness center.
The stylists and their clients were wearing face coverings, according to the health department.
As he announced news of the possible exposures, Springfield Greene-County Health Director Clay Goddard said: “I’ll be honest, I’m very frustrated to be up here today. And maybe more so, I’m disappointed.”
Missouri leaders allowed salons and barber shops to reopen May 4.
As of Thursday, more than 12,400 Missourians had tested positive for the virus and 696 had died. In Greene County, where Springfield is located, there have been 120 cases and eight deaths, according to state data.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 12:31 PM.
