Restaurants To Reopen After Long Closure With This List Of Measures

It has been a month since restaurants were ordered closed down by the Ministry of Health Mutahi Kagwe and the patrons are now celebrating the government’s leniency to allow them open even though with a list of strict measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Kenya economy, just like any developing country, is from hand to mouth except for a select few, the crumbling economy has had President Uhuru Kenyatta request the Ministry of Health come up with measures to enable the reopening of business as the country cannot afford the shutdown for long.

“Following the directives of His Excellency the President, National Emergency Response Committee on Coronavirus has approved the following guidelines for a partial reopening of eateries and restaurant,” the Health  CS said.

Below is a list of the conditions set for the reopening of restaurants in Kenya

a) All the restaurants shall only operate between 5.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.

b) All restaurants must limit the number of diners or customers to 4 people for every 10 square meters of space.

c) Tables in the dining areas must be spaced 1.5 meters apart in the dining area or seat customer groups at least 1.5 meters apart.

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

e)The alcohol to be served in these restaurants 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.

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

(i) Customers to have their meals delivered individually to the dining table by appointed restaurant stewards. If2buffet meals are served the service shall be by only one person appointed by the restaurant.

(j) Restaurants to ensure the quality and safety of food, to rinse and sanitize food contact surfaces, disinfect surfaces, floors, and counters.

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

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

(M) Any staff member or reveler with a temperature above 37.5 degrees shall not be allowed entry into the premises, and the premises shall immediately notify the Ministry of Health through the toll-free no 719 for guidance.

(N)Ensure physical distancing (1 meter – 3 feet) in food preparation areas.-

Whether restaurants will strictly observe the set guidelines or will overlook them and become the spreading fields of the deadly Coronavirus disease, only time will tell and whether they will have enough clientele is a question only time will answer, in the meantime, avoid restaurants that are obviously ignorant of the health measures for your own safety.