New Guidelines for Restaurant Reopenings During COVID-19

By Robert Whited Day-to-Day Business Operations Restaurant Financing June 8, 2020

Staying home is always an option for consumers. After being shuttered in our homes for the past 3 months, hearing restaurants and stores are slowly reopening is a welcome new message. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidelines for restaurants to adhere to as they begin opening their doors to the public again. Here, we’ll explore the key takeaways. Exposed? Don’t Come to Work Restaurants are encouraged to enact policies that let employees know they can stay home if they’re feeling sick, or have been in contact with someone who may be infected with the coronavirus. Ensure you won’t hold this against them so there is no fear of punishment or repercussions. Make sure your customers know these policies as well—they need to feel confident you’re exercising safe practices within your business, as well. The CDC has a resource section of their website with free, printable signage you can post in your restaurant. Hygiene Habits Hand washing should already be a regular practice in your establishment, and it’s more critical than ever now. At times when soap is unavailable, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Cloth face coverings are also still a necessity, when it’s possible. Here is a helpful resource on how to wear, wash, even make cloth face coverings. Keep it Clean Regular disinfection of every surface of your restaurant—including door handles, booths, bathroom stalls, and registers—is a critical part of reopening safely. It’s also recommended to limit or stop the use of shared objects, such as menus, tableware, and condiments. Opt instead for disposable utensils, digital menus, and single-use condiment packets. If you use linens in your dining room, remove and wash them after every use. Update Your Floor Plan Your layout still needs to accommodate social distancing regulations, which recommend maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet apart. Your tables and bar stools may need to be shifted to enable this. If you have outdoor seating, try to use it more frequently. If there is a long wait for a table, let customers wait in their cars to avoid mingling in a tightly packed space. And if you can, encourage diners to order ahead of time to cut back on the time they’ll spend in your restaurant. Sneeze guards and plexiglass barriers are also a recommended addition to your restaurant, “particularly in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart,” says the CDC. Find a Point of Contact Sort of like a COVID-19 czar, the CDC also recommends finding a responsible staff member to be in charge of responding to COVID-19 issues during every shift. If a guest or employee seems ill, or someone notices hygiene rules aren’t being followed, this staffer would be the point-of-contact for any concerns. They should be trained on how to respond to the particular issue appropriately. Bear in mind, these federal guidelines are meant to be used in conjunction with your state and local guidelines. They are by no means a replacement. As stated on their website, “Restaurants and bars can determine, in collaboration with state and local health officials, whether and how to implement these considerations, making adjustments to meet the needs and circumstances of the local community.” That being said, we’re all itching to get out and back to “normal” again. Businesses are looking to recoup some of the losses they’ve suffered these past few months, welcome back old customers, and open their doors to new ones. This is all well and good, but the safety of your employees and guests still needs to come first. We here at ARF Financial wish all the restaurant owners out there a safe, successful reopening—whenever that day may be.Staying home is always an option for consumers. After being shuttered in our homes for the past 3 months, hearing restaurants and stores are slowly reopening is a welcome new message. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued new guidelines for restaurant reopenings during COVID-19 that all restaurateurs must adhere to as they begin opening their doors to the public again. Here, we’ll explore the key takeaways.

Exposed? Don’t Come to Work

Restaurants are encouraged to enact policies that let employees know they can stay home if they’re feeling sick, or have been in contact with someone who may be infected with the coronavirus. Ensure you won’t hold this against them so there is no fear of punishment or repercussions. Make sure your customers know these policies as well—they need to feel confident you’re exercising safe practices within your business, as well. The CDC has a resource section of their website with free, printable signage you can post in your restaurant.

Hygiene Habits

Hand washing should already be a regular practice in your establishment, and it’s more critical than ever now. At times when soap is unavailable, the CDC recommends using a hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Cloth face coverings are also still a necessity, when it’s possible. Here is a helpful resource on how to wear, wash, even make cloth face coverings.

Keep it Clean

Regular disinfection of every surface of your restaurant—including door handles, booths, bathroom stalls, and registers—is a critical part of reopening safely. It’s also recommended to limit or stop the use of shared objects, such as menus, tableware, and condiments. Opt instead for disposable utensils, digital menus, and single-use condiment packets. If you use linens in your dining room, remove and wash them after every use.

Update Your Floor Plan

Your layout still needs to accommodate social distancing regulations, which recommend maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet apart. Your tables and bar stools may need to be shifted to enable this. If you have outdoor seating, try to use it more frequently. If there is a long wait for a table, let customers wait in their cars to avoid mingling in a tightly packed space. And if you can, encourage diners to order ahead of time to cut back on the time they’ll spend in your restaurant. Sneeze guards and plexiglass barriers are also a recommended addition to your restaurant, “particularly in areas where it is difficult for individuals to remain at least 6 feet apart,” says the CDC.

Find a Point of Contact

Sort of like a COVID-19 czar, the CDC also recommends finding a responsible staff member to be in charge of responding to COVID-19 issues during every shift. If a guest or employee seems ill, or someone notices hygiene rules aren’t being followed, this staffer would be the point-of-contact for any concerns. They should be trained on how to respond to the particular issue appropriately.

Bear in mind, these federal guidelines are meant to be used in conjunction with your state and local guidelines. They are by no means a replacement. As stated on their website, “Restaurants and bars can determine, in collaboration with state and local health officials, whether and how to implement these considerations, making adjustments to meet the needs and circumstances of the local community.” That being said, we’re all itching to get out and back to “normal” again. Businesses are looking to recoup some of the losses they’ve suffered these past few months, welcome back old customers, and open their doors to new ones. This is all well and good, but the safety of your employees and guests still needs to come first. We here at ARF Financial wish all the restaurant owners out there a safe, successful reopening—whenever that day may be.