Restaurants told to use disposable menu cards, napkins

Restaurants told to use disposable menu cards, napkins

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:07.06.2020

The state government on Saturday advised restaurants to use disposable menu cards, and encourage online and QR code-enabled payment methods wherever possible to avoid cash transactions due to Covid-19. Air conditioners or air coolers should not be used, instead all windows should be kept open.

Releasing a standard operating procedure for restaurants — just ahead of resumption of dine-in facilities with 50% seating capacity from June 8 — the government gave a slew of instructions to be followed by customers, owners, managers and workers, including thermal screening and hand wash at the entrance, and providing hand sanitisers on all dining tables. “In order to maintain strict social distancing in restaurants, seating arrangements should be made in such a way that 1sqm distance is maintained between each table,” the order said. Total number of dine-in customers should be displayed on a board prominently at the entrance.

Good quality disposable paper napkins must be used instead of cloth napkins, use of escalators with one person on alternate steps will have to be encouraged, while gaming arcades/ children play areas will remain closed in restaurants. CCTV camera surveillance is a must at the entrance and at other places for tracing contacts if need be later.

Customers having cough, cold or fever should not be permitted and those with comorbidities should avoid visiting restaurants, the government has advised. “Biometric attendance system should be avoided in restaurants. People above 65 years of age, those with comorbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home except for essential runs and medical needs,” the order said. Take aways should be encouraged instead of dine-in, and food delivery personnel should leave food packets at customers’ doorsteps.

Restaurants should ensure physical distancing of at least 6ft is maintained within and while queuing up to enter their premises.

In another order for shops and other establishments, the government said hand wash facilities should be made available with soap and water or sanitisers at the entrance. “At a time, only one person should be allowed to buy the goods and a minimum of four to five people shall be allowed to wait in the marking area,” the order said. Customers should not touch products at the shops “unnecessarily” and should wash their hands once they reach home.

Shops, other establishments must allow only one customer at a time, says government in latest order