Local Barber Out Of Work As Okla. Faces Historic Unemployment Numbers

Unemployment numbers are shattering records statewide and across the United States. 45,000 Oklahomans filed their first unemployment claims last week. For barbershops, basically 99 percent of their job requires them to be closer than six feet away, and re

Friday, April 3rd 2020, 2:59 am

By: News On 6

Local Barber Out Of Work As Okla. Faces Historic Unemployment Numbers

Unemployment numbers are shattering records statewide and across the United States.

45,000 Oklahomans filed their first unemployment claims last week.

For barbershops, basically 99 percent of their job requires them to be closer than six feet away, and restrictions in place right now make it impossible for them to do their jobs.

Michael Arms at Midtown Barbers says he understands why barbershops were forced to close down.

The way COVID-19 is transmitted, Arms says his shop could easily be a place where community spread could happen.

"It's been hard on all of really knowing that we don't have any income coming in for the next 30 days, but its best for the city and needs to be done," he said.

Arms says it's surreal telling customers when they call "sorry we cant help you right now."

The good news is, Arms says even though he's not seeing customers, they're still supporting him by offering donations and payments for haircuts they're not getting.

Arms says one thing they can still do, like other barbershops, is sell products from their stores.

Midtown Barbers says for that you can contact them through email, or call them directly.

","published":"2020-04-03T07:59:15.000Z","updated":"2020-04-03T08:23:19.000Z","summary":"Unemployment numbers are shattering records statewide and across the United States. 45,000 Oklahomans filed their first unemployment claims last week. For barbershops, basically 99 percent of their job requires them to be closer than six feet away, and re","affiliate":{"_id":"5c784a0c4961cb23ad330098","callSign":"kotv","origin":"https://www.newson6.com"},"contentClass":"news","createdAt":"2020-04-07T22:10:37.541Z","updatedAt":"2020-05-12T19:27:15.089Z","__v":1,"show":true,"link":"/story/5e8cfa5dfa8ed3749a62c9b6/local-barber-out-of-work-as-okla-faces-historic-unemployment-numbers","hasSchedule":false,"id":"5e8cfa5dfa8ed3749a62c9b6"};