The Ministry of Health and Family welfare vide its notification dated 1st March 2021 has issued SOP on preventive measures in Restaurants to contain spread of COVID-19 in supersession of guidelines issued earlier dated 4th June 2020.
The SOP outlines various generic precautionary measures to be adopted in addition to specific measures to be ensured at particular places to prevent spread of COVID-19 and the Restaurants in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
The generic measures include simple public health measures that are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures need to be observed by all (staff and patrons) in these places at all times.
All Restaurants shall ensure the following arrangements:
- Takeaways to be encouraged, instead of Dine-In. Food delivery should also be done duly following adequate precautions including effective hand hygiene and maintaining physical distancing.
- The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the restaurant authorities prior to allowing home deliveries.
- iii. Entrance to have mandatory hand hygiene (sanitizer dispenser) and thermal screening provisions.
- Adequate manpower shall be deployed by restaurant management for ensuring physical distancing norms.
- All employees who are at higher risk i.e. older employees, pregnant employees and employees who have underlying medical conditions, to take extra precautions. They should preferably not be exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact with the public.
- Specific markings may be made with sufficient distance to manage the queue and ensure physical distancing in the premises.
- Disposable menus are advised to be used.
- Instead of cloth napkins, use of good quality disposable paper napkins to be encouraged.
- Buffet service should also follow physical distancing norms among patrons.
