El Reno will wait a week longer before allowing certain businesses to open. This breaks from the guidelines set by Gov. Kevin Stitt who said some businesses could reopen Friday in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Matt White decided Thursday that personal care businesses will remain closed in El Reno until April 30. That was the day originally set in El Reno’s emergency proclamation.

On Wednesday, Stitt announced the rollout of a three-step plan to reopen the state beginning April 24.

“The bottom line is I called a lot of the barber shops and salons in town. They agreed that we are doing a good job with social distancing. It’s only six more days and then we can get the city opened up the right way,” said White.

Phase I of Stitt’s plan allows businesses such as hair salons, barber shops, spas, nail salons and pet groomers to reopen Friday, April 24.

Those choosing to reopen would do so on an appointment-only basis and will have to follow strict sanitation protocols.

Both employees and customers in the reopened businesses will be required to wear masks, and customers will be expected to wait in their cars for an appointment rather than in a common waiting area.

White, who has followed the lead of Stitt up to this point, said he was puzzled by the governor’s decision to allow personal care establishments to reopen first.

“Where I disagree with the governor is why would you begin with some of the businesses that have the most up-front contact with people. But this way we can have seven more days to do things right. We need to keep doing all the social distancing, wearing our masks and washing our hands,” said White.

Phase II of the state’s plan is set to begin May 1, with the reopening of restaurants, movie theaters, sporting venues, gyms and tattoo parlors.

Like Phase I, businesses will be required to operate under the strict social distancing and sanitation guidelines.

Churches and places of worship can reopen May 1 as well under the state plan using the same social distancing and sanitation guidelines. Nurseries should remain closed at those sites.

The state’s final phase would allow organized sports to restart. Funerals and weddings can resume and bars can reopen. Stitt said movement between stages would depend if the state’s virus numbers remain manageable.

White said El Reno will follow the state’s guidelines as recommendations, but the city will adopt its own reopening plan before May 1.

“This is a fluid situation and we will have more guidelines from the state, but we will tailor them to fit what is best for El Reno. I will have staff meetings and meet with people from the state to get a plan for El Reno and we have a week to do that,” said White.

White said the city’s delay of implementing the state's Phase I plan by a week does not mean that the other phases will be delayed as well.

“Right now we have got April 30 on the proclamation. The governor has a three-phase plan and we want to stick to it as much as we can but we also want what is best for El Reno.

“We all want to go back to church and go out and see our friends but it makes no sense to open up before it’s safe. We want to open safely but it has to be with precautions.”

Joe Howarton, owner of Royal Razor Barber Shop in downtown El Reno, said he understands the mayor’s position but does not fully agree with the decision to delay six days longer than the state mandate.

“I did speak to the mayor and he told me what he wanted to do. I was a little disappointed and was ready to get back to work, but I go along with the rest of them. I’m not that happy but I will go along with it,” said Howarton.

Howarton, who has been at his North Rock Island location since 1968, had already made plans to open his shop and was taking appointments based on the state’s lead.

“The governor said we could go back to work so I had plans to open up and had 10 appointment in place. I have been on the phone canceling those appointments and so far people have been nice and understanding,” said Howarton.

At 82 years old, Howarton is considered to be at high risk to contract the virus and admits he is concerned with his own health but it will not stop him from reopening on May 1.

“Sure I’m concerned. I have not seen anything like this since the polio scare when I was about 7 years old. That was a terrible disease that had everyone scared and they finally came up with a vaccine and we got through that as well,” said Howarton.

Webmaster’s Note: This story has been updated to include a graphic of Gov. Stitt’s plan.