Hair salon being studied after two stylists with coronavirus did not infect any of its 150 customers and staff

'We are studying more closely the details of these exposures’

Health experts are studying a Missouri hair salon after almost 150 people exposed to two stylists with coronavirus tested negative or showed no symptoms following the incubation period.

The Great Clips in Springfield, Missouri, was shut down in late May after it was revealed two workers tested positive for Covid-19 and "potentially directly exposed" seven staff and 140 clients to the infectious disease.

The Springfield-Green County Health Department confirmed this week that of the 147 exposed, 46 took tests that came back negative and 101 did not display any symptoms after 14 days of quarantine.

Director of Health, Clay Goddard, said the results showed the value of wearing masks to slow the spread of Covid-19.

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"We are studying more closely the details of these exposures, including what types of face coverings were worn and what other precautions were taken to lead to this encouraging result," he said in a statement.

"We never want an exposure like this to happen, but this situation will greatly expand our understanding of how this novel coronavirus spreads."

Hair salons were allowed to reopen on 4 May when Missouri loosened restrictions on which businesses could operate during the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Goddard said that in addition to masks for all staff and clients, the Great Clips had policies in place that likely prevented the spread of the disease, including distancing of chairs, staggering of appointments, and quarantine for all exposed, as well as records that made contract tracing possible.

As the US officially passed the 2 million cases milestone, according to date from John Hopkins University, there are fears that an uptick in cases and hospitalizations since Memorial Day could worsen following nationwide protests.

Doctors have warned that at the current rate, another 100,000 deaths could be added by Labor Day, increasing the current death toll of 113,163 to more than 200,000 by the end of summer.

The White House coronavirus task force is scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the latest developments across the country.

In Texas, where Donald Trump is travelling today, there has been an uptick in hospitalisations, according to Covid Tracking Project data, while Florida is

In New York, the country's pandemic epicentre, 36 people died from coronavirus on Wednesday, 53 on Tuesday and 46 on Monday, according to Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said 69 people were hospitalised in New York City on Tuesday, while 337 people remained in intensive care unit beds, below the reopening threshold of 375.

In Arizona, where Mr Trump announced would hold a campaign rally in within the next week, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said hospitals in the city and state were struggling after opening too early.

The president's economic adviser Larry Kudlow, meanwhile, downplayed the possibility of a second coronavirus wave during an interview with Fox Business, saying the uptick in cases was due to increased testing.

"Go talk to [White House coronavirus coordinator] Deborah Birx about that, she doesn't seem to think so," he said.