Salons and beauty shops re-opened in the Philippines this week following a two-week strict lockdown due to a spike in Covid-19 cases.

Hair dressers are back at work to service their customers in Mandaluyong City when the quarantine guidelines were relaxed on August 18.

Ceceilia Balinsat, owner of a beauty salon in the city, said they are struggling with the decline of customers due to the pandemic.

She said: "We are trying to keep it together even with a few customers. My shop used to be filled with people but there are hardly any now.''

The struggling business owner said that the customer limit also adds to their burden but they comply withsocial distancing.

She added that her salon started three years ago with only five regular staff but their patrons now prefer doing beauty routines inside their homes.

She said: "I am still thankful because the business is still there even though it is difficult to start all over again. However, we need to be strong and determined to survive in our daily and basic needs especially on how to help our staff during pandemic."

Salon and beauty shop workers are required to wear mask and other personal protective equipment before they can interact with the customers.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said: "These will be implemented under strict protocol of hand sanitation, use face mask and face shield, gloves and sterilized equipment."

The Philippines, which has 178,022 coronavirus cases so far with a 2,883 death toll, has some of the strictest lockdown restrictions in the world.