Missouri Great Clips sites close after virus-related threats

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Great Clips has temporarily closed its salons in Springfield, Missouri, after threatening messages that followed news that two hairstylists potentially exposed 140 clients to the coronavirus.

Great Clips Inc., which has thousands of franchises in the U.S. and Canada, said in a statement Thursday that its locations in Springfield decided to close after “repeated threats.”

“To protect the safety of everyone, the local franchisees made the decision to temporarily close salons in the Springfield area," the statement read. "They are working closely with law enforcement officials as the officials conduct a thorough investigation of these threats.”

It wasn't immediately clear how many stores were closed or when they'll reopen. The company didn't respond to emails seeking further information.

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department announced last week that a hairstylist at Great Clips served 84 clients over eight days in mid-May while experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.

A co-worker of that stylist is now sick, and the health department said 56 other clients were potentially exposed by the second stylist from May 16 to May 20.

The stylists and all of their clients wore face masks, health officials said. All of the clients were being tested and Goddard said some results were expected to be announced Friday.

Springfield police spokeswoman Jasmine Bailey said the first threat came from a Facebook message to an employee on Saturday. The second threat was phoned to a salon Wednesday.

Bailey said that in both cases, the messages “were threatening to shut the place down" because the stylists potentially exposed people to the virus. She declined to give further details.

Bailey said it was too soon the know...