Massage therapist raises coronavirus awareness - WTHR

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INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - A lot of small businesses, like hair salons, nail salons and even barber shops, are still grappling with whether they should shut down.

It's a service some may find challenging to go without, but the spread of the coronavirus has massage therapist Judy Bobbitt concerned about keeping her business open.

"We feel like our profession wasn't addressed when every day, we're in direct contact with individuals on a daily basis," Bobbitt said.

When Governor Holcomb announced the closing of restaurants, bars and movie theaters, Bobbitt said others were forgotten.

"What triggered me to even think so deeply about it is I do have a client who is actually compromised and just thinking of the gravity of 'what if I transmitted something to her,' it really made me make the conscious decision to say I need to step back and we need to as my business makes the decision to shut down," Bobbitt said.

Steven Carlstrand, Bobbitt's co-worker, agrees.

"There needs to be some kind of directive if we're going to be shut down like everything else. How do we live?" Carlstrand said.

Other businesses, like nail salons and barber shops, are staying open.

Signs on the door of one Carmel nail salon read: "Please wash your hands with soap and water before we begin your services."

One nail technician, who did not want to be identified, told Eyewitness News she struggles with her decision every day whether to come to work. If she doesn't work, she doesn't get paid. She also said she feels a shutdown of all small businesses coming soon.

Another sign outside of Great Clips read: "We care about the health of our customers and staff and are following CDC and PHAC recommendations. To help in this effort, please refrain from getting your haircut if you are not feeling well."

Eyewitness News asked one barber, as she was cutting a client's hair, about social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus.

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"You can't live in fear. You just can't. Humanity just needs to stick together. We're going to survive," she said.

Surviving may mean spreading awareness to all.

"I think we need to address this and have other people just aware of the gravity of the situation before it gets any further so we will not turn into Italy," Bobbitt said.