As the dust settles and states begin to look forward to reopening it’s time to think about what types of measures your bar, restaurant, or another establishment in Georgia should do about reopening.
Before reopening you should address concerns regarding sanitation and safety, employee education, liability, distancing, and continuing to offer to pick up or delivery.
Restaurants and Bars were allowed to reopen April 27th
Sanitation and safety
The state has mandated 39 guidelines that must be followed. Including some of the following:
- Screening workers
- Require reporting of symptoms
- Staggering shifts
- Meetings or conferences virtually
- Training all employees on handwashing
- All employees must wear a face mask
- Staggering work stations
- Limiting the number of people in a breakroom
- Prohibit handshaking
- Enforce social distancing
- Increase physical space in between worker and customer
- Discontinue the use of self-service opportunities (i.e. buffets)
- Thoroughly clean before reopening
- Clean and sanitize in between diners
- Use rolled silverware
- Paper (one-time use) menus are encouraged
Employee education
Not only is it important to make sure all of your employees are up to date on safe Georgia Alcohol Seller and Server training. It’s an important time to make sure all employees are about to successfully identify if an employee or patron is showing signs of COVID-19 (World Health Organization COVID-19 Symptoms list).
In addition, you should create house policies that dictate when and for how long an employee should be unable to return to work. The CDC currently recommends self-quarantining for 14 days someone who might be sick and self-isolation if you are.
Liability
Before opening be sure to post a clear and concise liability waiver. This statement should be available for patrons and servers to read on the door or in seating areas.
This waiver should speak to how you’d like your customers to conduct themselves, how the staff has been trained and enhanced cleaning procedures.
Distancing
In order to maintain the recommended six feet of separation, it’s recommended that you redesign the dining room areas to seat customers farther apart.
You may want to consider canceling or postponing events that typically bring in crowds like fundraising, bands, and banquets.
It is also recommended that you temporarily discontinue self-service food and drink opportunities.
Pick Up/Delivery
While a lot of people may be eager to rejoin their daily tasks like getting a bite to eat or drinking at the local pub. There may be regular patrons who would prefer to remain distanced from the general population.
So it may still be lucrative to maintain pick up and delivery options that were put into place. If this option was previously not in place, it may be a good time for management to reconsider.
Additional resources related to COVID in your state include:
- Georgia Department of Public Health
- 2020 Georgia Executive Orders
- How to Prevent Getting Sick (CDC)
- Testing for COVID-19 (CDC)
Products