Coronavirus Update: Washington Barbershop Reopens To Long Lines, Defies Lockdown Orders

A long line of customers was seen outside a barbershop in Washington when it reopened business despite the lockdown orders.

Gov. Jay Inslee extended Washington state's stay-at-home orders until May 30 but this didn't stop Robert Martin, the owner of Stag Barber and Styling in Snohomish County, from opening his shop and taking in customers.

Over the weekend, Stag Barber and Styling had more than 130 customers who asked for a haircut. Some of them were from other counties, who didn't mind the long wait or who had to be back the next day because it was not yet their turn at the barber's chair.

By Tuesday, the barbershop's voicemail was filled with calls, and Martin could not believe the overwhelming support from the public when he reopened his business.

"I stand by that because it’s our constitutional right to do what we’re doing and maintain a livelihood,” Martin told local reporters. “They don’t have the authority to take that away from us.”

The barber also said that he had to reopen his business since his overhead is expensive.

"I had to make sure I could pay for that," Martin said.

Martin was reportedly emboldened to defy the governor's stay-at-home orders after reading a Facebook statement from the Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney that there will be no enforcement but Inslee's spokesperson said otherwise.

"The Governor’s Office and State Patrol have both provided guidance that local law enforcement should take the lead on enforcing the state’s ban on gatherings," Inslee's spokesperson Mike Faulk told NBC News.

Meanwhile, Inslee's reopening plans for the state of Washington listed the opening of barbershops under phase two. Dubbed the "Start Safe" plan, Washington started easing its lockdown orders May 5.

Phase 1 of the Start Safe plan allows for the resumption of outdoor recreation, some retail services (pick-up and delivery), landscaping, car washing, pet walking and auto dealerships. Ideally, the next phase won't begin until three weeks but Martin insisted that "people need to go back to work."

Meanwhile, Stag Barber and Styling's reopening received over 140 complaints. The governor's office said these have been referred to the Department of Licensing.

As of Tuesday evening, Washington has over 15,000 COVID-19 cases and 841 deaths. Inslee said the stay-at-home orders helped in slowing down the spread of coronavirus in Washington.