Government Relations

Governor Newsom announced on July 13, 2020, that counties that have remained on the County Monitoring List for three consecutive days must close indoor businesses, which includes those offering personal care services as of July 13, 2020, “unless they can be modified to operate outside or by pick-up.”

The California Department of Public Health issued new guidelines for Personal Care Services on July 2, 2020, for massage therapists, estheticians, cosmetologists, and nail professionals. Here are the major changes in the new guidelines:

An updated Interim Guidance for Personal Care Services During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency document released July 1, 2020, includes a requirement that employees be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks for regions in Phase 3. This includes sole practitioners.

There is currently one vacancy for a licensed massage therapist on the Oregon Board of Massage Therapists (OBMT). The OBMT has requested ABMP nominate three qualified candidates for their review.

The South Dakota Board of Massage Therapy is considering amendments to the massage therapy rules.

Governor Wolf announced in a recent press release that the following counties will enter the Green Phase on June 26, 2020: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Erie, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, and Susquehanna.

Per a Mayor's Order released June 19, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the District of Columbia entered Phase Two of reopening Monday, June 22, 2020.

Massage therapists, estheticians, cosmetologists, and nail professionals may resume business operations no sooner than June 19, 2020.

Per Executive Order No. 154 issued June 13, 2020, personal care businesses may resume business operations June 22, 2020, including beauty salons, barbershops, cosmetology salons, day spas (excluding saunas, steam rooms, and shared bathing facilities), medical spas, hair braiding shops, massage therapy establishments, and nail salons. 

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced Phase 2 of Reopen Connecticut, allowing businesses offering personal services to resume operations June 17, 2020, including day spas, estheticians, waxing, massage therapy, nail technicians, and eyelash technicians.