All over the world both restaurateurs and customers are experiencing the repercussions of the COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus. From symptoms displaying two weeks after the initial diagnosis people are taking precautionary measures to avoid being infected by the virus. To protect both yourself, employees and your guests it’s important to follow these steps to prevent catching the illness.
- Wash your hands with soap and water: Hands come in contact with a lot of different surfaces and people. Make sure you have a soap that can kill any potential viruses that may be on your hands. Offer extra hand sanitizer in common areas of the restaurant to ensure clean hands, e.g. touchscreens, restrooms, entrances.
- Maintain a social distance and limit event gatherings: The virus spreads by droplets coming from a person’s nose and mouth. Keep at least 3 feet between yourself and guests who are coughing or sneezing to avoid breathing in droplets. If you have events that’s expected to have large crowds, consider postponing it until further notice.
- Avoid contact with eyes, nose, and mouth: You never know what viruses are lurking on the surfaces around you. Due to the number of people coming in and out of your store the virus may be hiding on the surfaces at your restaurant. Make sure to be fully stocked on multi surface cleaners and to thoroughly wipe down surfaces so you and your staff can maintain a clean environment. A list of surfaces include:
- Touch screen kiosks
- Tables
- Menus
- Countertops
- Practice respiratory hygiene: Make sure to encourage employees to cover their nose and mouth when they sneeze or cough. This way it protects you, your staff and your guests from potentially contracting the virus.
- Stay home if you’re feeling sick: If you or an employee are feeling under the weather it’s important to stay home and rest. If you have any symptoms such as having trouble breathing or an aggressive cough go seek a medical professional.
- Stay informed and have a restaurant backup plan: Stay informed on the latest developments to ensure that you and your restaurant are ready to have an effective plan if the virus gets worse. Get live updates about COVID-19 from the World Health Organization here.
Learn more about the virus and preventative measures by going to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.