Chennai: After a gap of nearly two months, smile was back on the face of barbers today, as saloons were reopened in rural areas of Tamilnadu this morning.

‘All these days, we faced immensed troubles for food and to pay rent, apart from meeting our other needs. Now that we have reoepned shops, we will be able to earn money,’ said Selvam, a barber in a village in Chengalpet district.

Tamilnadu government on Monday said barber shops in rural areas will be allowed to open from Tuesday onwards.

In an official release, Chief Minister Edapadi K Palaniswami said, barring areas under Greater Chennai Corporation and other municipal corporations, barber shops in rural areas can be reopened.

He said that the shops should be sanitised five times a day and social distancing should be maintained.

The barbers should compulsorily wear gloves and masks and the customers too should wear masks, he said.