Alcohol to be sold and served in restaurants with food as bars remain closed -New regulations

Restaurants and eateries

State opens up restaurants and eateries but with restrictions. The Government allows Restaurants and hotels to offer services. The Ministry of Health wants all waiters from all restaurants and eateries to undergo COVID-19 tests before re-assigned duties.

 According to the Government, several steps restaurant owners will take to open up their businesses. According to the Government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna, restaurants will also serve drinks instead of bars.

Following the directives of H.E the President, National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus has approved the following guidelines for a partial reopening of eateries and restaurants.

5. AIcohol shall only be sold with a meal in the restaurant and only be served to customers waiting to be served a meal, during the meal, or 30 minutes after the meal has ended.

— Spokesperson GoK (@SpokespersonGoK) April 27, 2020

The new guidelines are:

• All restaurants shall only operate between 05.00 a.m. and 04.00 p.m.

• Restaurants must limit the number of diners or customers to 4 people for every 10 square metres space. 

• Tables in the dining areas must be spaced 1.5 metres apart in the dining area or seat customer groups at least 1.5 metres apart.

•  Maintain distance from the back of one chair to the other chair not less than a metre and guests must face each other from a distance of at least one metre.

• Alcohol shall only be sold with a meal in the restaurant and only be served to customers waiting to be served a meal, during the meal, or 30 minutes after the meal has ended.

• Temporarily discontinue self-service of ready-to-eat foods such as salad bars or buffets. 

• Customers to have their meals delivered individually to the dining table by appointed restaurant stewards.

• If two buffet meals are served the service shall be by only one person appointed by the restaurant. Restaurants to ensure quality and safety of food, to rinse and sanitize food contact surfaces, disinfect surfaces, floors and counters.

•  Install adequate portable running water and accessible washing basins for handwashing purposes, install alcohol based-hand sanitizers at the entrance and exit points.

•  Restaurants and eateries must install a contact-free thermometer and ensure that every person entering the premises has his/her body temperature taken.