Fast Food and Restaurants Resume Dine-in Service; to Observe Health and Safety Guidelines

With the shift of the National Capital Region (NCR) and other areas in the country from Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) to General Community Quarantine (GCQ), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) releases operating guidelines for the resumption of dine-in services in restaurants and fast food establishments.

The set of guidelines requires that the establishments enforce a ‘no-mask, no entry’ policy, and social distancing. They should also post information materials on the maximum number of persons allowed inside the dining areas; sanitation schedules and procedures; availability of alternative modes of payment, ordering, and picking-up of orders; client-personnel interaction protocols; and enforcement measures.

Floor mat or foot bath with disinfectant should also be present at the entrances of the establishments along with a calibrated thermal scanner for temperature scanning, rubbing alcohol, and a health checklist for the customer to fill-up. They shall not allow the entry of customers with a temperature of more than 37.5 degrees Centigrade, with coughs and colds, or experiencing shortness of breath and advise them to proceed to the nearest hospital.

dine-in

There should also be no physical contact during the payment and provision of small trays for accepting cash. Fast food and restaurants are also to offer alternative modes of payment.

No buffets yet

Buffet and self-service areas for food bars, condiments, and utensils are still not allowed. Play areas are to remain closed.

dine-in

Personnel should also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face mask, face shield, gloves, and hair cap, among others. They should not wear any jewelry such as rings, bracelets, watches, earrings, and others. Those with COVID-19 symptoms or with exposure to COVID-19 patients should not report for work.

According to the guidelines, dine-in restaurants and fast food establishments need to comply with the health standards to operate, as this will be the new normal. In areas under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), dine-in restaurants can operate at fifty (50) percent capacity.

Leave a Comment

For security, use of Google's reCAPTCHA service is required which is subject to the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.