SIDNEY - Jolene Deer is glad to be back at work serving her clients she's been working with since she opened her Sidney hair salon in 1989.

Under a new Directed Health Measure issued by Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts last week, hair salons, restaurants, tattoo shops and childcare centers were allowed to reopen with certain restrictions on Monday. They were forced to close in mid-April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Deer was relieved her salon was closed, because of the unknown with the novel coronavirus. She says she used the time to protect herself and her family.

"Being able to spend time with family, have time to really grasp what's really going on, and to just be sensitive to people," Deer said. "Some people are really have a hard time with this. Others are having it as a welcome break."

Under the new measure, salons are not allowed to have walk-in customers. Each customer must make an appointment and wait in their vehicle until the salon is ready for them. When a customer enters the building, they must sanitize their hands and remain six-feet a part from other customers.

Both employees and customers must wear a face mask while inside the business. Deer says that's been the biggest challenge.

"It's easier to cut around there," Deer said. "Basically, I've been able to take a long-tail comb and unhook their loop, without even touching them, and get around there. Coloring is a whole different ballgame. You're pretty much going to color their little straps around there. It's just going to happen."

Customers who do not bring a mask must reschedule their appointment, according to the "COVID-19 Reopening Policies" released by the Panhandle Public Health District on Monday. Customers are also not allowed to bring guests.

Clients are asked to reschedule their appointment if they've had a cough or fever in the last 48 hours, have been around anyone with COVID-19 symptoms, live with anyone who has been sick and/or quarantined, and have traveled outside of Nebraska in the past 14 days.

The biggest request Deer has received in the two days since reopening: hair coloring.

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