What are Covid-19 restaurant guidelines?
Covid-19 restaurant guidelines vary by state, but typically include increased sanitation measures, staggered seating to promote social distancing, and mandatory face coverings for staff and customers.
Guidelines for Reopening Your Restaurant After Covid-19
Establish Health and Safety Protocols for Your Staff and Customers
Before opening your doors to customers, it's important to put health and safety protocols in place for both your staff and visitors. This may include anything from frequently cleaning high-touch surfaces to providing hand sanitizer and face masks. By taking these precautions, you can help create a safe and healthy environment for everyone.
Clean and Disinfect Your Restaurant According to CDC Guidelines
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you should clean and disinfect your restaurant regularly in order to keep it safe from potential health hazards. Follow these simple tips to ensure that your establishment is as clean and sanitary as possible-
- Sweep, mop, and vacuum floors regularly.
- Wipe down all surfaces with a disinfectant solution. Be sure to pay special attention to areas that are frequently touched, such as door handles, countertops, and light switches.
- Wash dishes, utensils, and cookware thoroughly in hot water with detergent.
- Sanitize food preparation areas after each use. This includes wiping down counters, cutting boards, stovetops, etc. with a bleach-based solution.
- Store food properly to prevent contamination. Raw meat should be kept separate from cooked food, and all food items should be covered when not in use.
* These are just a few of the many steps that you can take to maintain a clean and healthy restaurant environment; for more information on this topic, visit the CDC website or speak with a professional sanitation expert.*
Train Your Staff on New Procedures and Protocols
You can never be too prepared when it comes to training your staff on new procedures and protocols. Make sure that everyone is always up-to-date on the latest changes so that there are no surprises when someone needs to step in and take over for another colleague.
One way to ensure that your staff is constantly improving their skills is to set up a system where they can shadow other employees or observe more experienced co-workers. This way, they can learn from those who have already mastered the procedures and protocols. Additionally, create a culture of learning by providing opportunities for employees to attend workshops or receive one-on-one coaching from you or other leaders within the company. Providing opportunities for growth will show your staff that you value their development and are committed to helping them improve.
Communicate Your Reopening Plans to Your Customers
You should begin by drafting a formal announcement of your plans to reopen. This can be in the form of a blog post, social media post, or even an email newsletter blast. In this announcement, you'll want to include important details like the date you plan to reopen, what safety precautions you'll be taking, and anything else that will be different about your business going forward. Customers will appreciate this level of transparency, and it will help to build trust as you begin welcoming them back into your space.
Monitor the Health of Your Employees and Customers
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), employers can help protect employees and customers by monitoring the health of their employees and customers. Employers should-
Encourage employees to stay home if they are sick.
Encourage employees to get vaccinated against flu and other illnesses.
Make sure that employee health concerns are addressed in a confidential manner.
Encourage good hygiene practices, such as handwashing, coughing into a tissue or sleeve, and avoid touching one's face.
In addition, employers should make sure that their workplace is clean and free of potential sources of infection, such as ensuring that there is proper ventilation, cleaning surfaces regularly, and providing access to alcohol-based hand sanitizer.