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Many San Diego business owners dealing with new restrictions as COVID-19 cases rise

Posted at 8:45 PM, Jul 13, 2020
and last updated 2020-07-14 02:16:01-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV)- Even after following the health and safety guidelines, many business owners are dealing with a significant setback, as they're forced to close up shop once again.

"It's about to be very hard right now, very hard," said Chris Cage, owner of Originality Barber Salon in North Park. "I'm trying to think if we should still keep the business, we still gotta pay rent, and we can't even use it."

Cage runs the shop, a combination of a barbershop and a hair salon with his wife, Melissa Cage.

"She's a cosmetologist also; she's in the shop. We got four kids together," he said.

After recently reopening and getting back on their feet, the alarming rise of COVID-19 cases and fear of overwhelming hospital systems has resulted in California Gov. Gavin Newsom putting restrictions back in place for some counties across the state, including San Diego.

Starting Wednesday, all fitness centers, places of worship, offices for non-critical sectors, personal care services, hair salons, barbershops, and indoor malls will have to cease indoor operations until further notice.

San Diego County Public Health Officer, Dr. Wilma Wooten, said outdoor haircuts would only be allowed depending on the rules and permit requirements that exist in various jurisdictions.

"I'm looking into going in the back patio and cutting hair outside," said Cage.

For now, it's yet another uncertainty for the businesses already struggling during this pandemic.

"I hope we could survive this one because it costs a lot of money to be paying for something that you're not even really using," said Cage.