Coronavirus: beauty treatment rush before Hong Kong government’s two-week closure order kicks in
- Demand surges in Hong Kong for salon services before 14-day closure order takes effect on Friday under anti-contagion regulations
- Pandemic hits beauty business hard as industry pins hopes on relief measures under HK$137.5 billion fund
Hongkongers rushed to beauty parlours on Thursday ahead of their two-week closure to prevent the spread of Covid-19 as the industry braced for the financial impact of the shutdown.
Salons report a surge in demand before the suspension of beauty, massage and tattoo businesses takes effect on Friday under an expansion of the government’s 14-day ban on the operation of leisure and recreation venues.
Aphena Chiu, the owner of Rejuvena de Beauté in Hung Hom, said she had more than 10 clients on Thursday, twice as many as usual, who wanted facial, body, eyelash and other treatments.
“So many of them want to come, but we have to close according to the [government] policy. So they either book today or April 24, immediately after we reopen. We are fully booked on the 24th as well,” Chiu said.
It was announced on Wednesday that beauty parlours would be added to the list of venues that must close for 14 days after three of the establishments were linked to coronavirus infections.
The government also extended to April 23 its social-distancing rules, which include barring more than four people from gathering in public.
A branch in Jordan of the Kinly International Medical Beauty chain, which specialises in eye microplastics, also reported more client appointments.
