OCEANSIDE, Calif., (KGTV) — The regional shutdown of many business sectors begins Sunday at 11:59 p.m., leaving thousands of people jobless in the middle of the holiday season.
Donald Murray is a regular customer at Copperwood Barber Shop in Oceanside.
"[I get the] 'High and tight' I guess is what they call it," Murray laughed. "Low maintenance."
Brothers Allen and Sherman Morris opened the shop in 1988, serving thousands of customers simple cuts. But this year, business has been anything but simple.
"We don't understand why they keep shutting us down," barber Adriana Hinojosa sighed.
Hinojosa says since the pandemic began in March, customer numbers dipped under 50%. Owner Sherman Morris has not been into his shop due to health risks.
"We don't want him to get sick," Hinojosa said.
The old school shop made adjustments with every new restriction, serving customers in every other chair, buying sanitation goods, and even going outside for a few weeks.
"This summer, it was hot, we were sweating, the customers were sweating, so it was kind of hard," Hinojosa said.
But once again, they must shut their doors completely. According to the State, other sectors facing the same shutdown include:
— indoor and outdoor playgrounds
— indoor recreational facilities
— hair salons and barbershops
— personal care services
— museums, zoos, and aquariums
— movie theaters
— wineries, bars, breweries, and distilleries;
— family entertainment centers and amusement parks
— cardrooms and satellite wagering
— live audience sports
"Making these guys jump through hoops, I don't think is right," Murray said.
As Hinojosa makes her final buzz, she braces for what will be a holiday season with much fewer gifts under the tree.
"We are going to be with our families. We are going to stay home," Hinojosa said. "But there's not going to be presents or other relatives because of the COVID."
