CAPE TOWN –
The long wait is over for restaurants to open after the Department of Tourism published a new directive outlining the rules that need to be met for sit-down orders.
The rules will apply for restaurants, fast food outlets and coffee shops:
Provide employees with masks to wear and hand sanitiser;
Ensure that an area is demarcated for the collection of orders for delivery that is separate from the place where food is prepared;
Ensure that a contactless pickup zone for customers whose orders are ready to be collected is designated;
Sit-down restaurants must conduct a screening questionnaire and take precautionary measures to protect the person and other persons on the premises. Such measures may include denying such a person access to the premises;
Ensure that customers or guests wear masks at all times while they are on their premises except when eating or drinking;
Ensure that customers or guests queue at least one and a half meters apart behind each other or sideways;
Consider a reservation system to manage demand, and help ensure that capacity limits are adhered to;
No buffets may be offered to guests for self -service;
Guests may pickup pre-portioned items and any other buffet service should be handled by food service employees only from behind Perspex or similar protective shields;
Menus must be replaced with non -touch options or sanitised after each guest use;
Where possible and for instance while taking orders, waiting staff must stand at least a meter from tables;
Where possible, tablecloths should be removed from tables. Only essential items such as salt and pepper, should remain on tables and be sanitised after each guest;
Venues must keep a daily record of the full names, ID number or passport, nationality, employee position of all employees and delivery persons.
Ensure that every employee and delivery person is screened on arrival for shifts and on departing after shifts.
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