RESTAURANTS in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) will be allowed to resume limited dine-in services beginning June 15.
The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases approved the resumption of dine-in services during its meeting Wednesday, June 10, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.
Dine-in services will be limited to 30 percent of a restaurant’s capacity. Minimum health standards such as wearing of face masks or face shields as well as social distancing are required as preventive measures against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Restaurant staff are also required to wear protective equipment.
In a public briefing Thursday, June 11, Roque said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recommended restaurants in GCQ areas to provide dine-in services.
“Ito po ay good news sa mga nagtatrabaho sa mga restaurants at iyong mga nami-miss nang kumain sa mga restaurants,” Roque said.
“Papayagan na po ang hanggang 30 percent capacity sa mga restaurants maski mayroon pong GCQ,” Roque said.
The IATF gave its approval more than a week after Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez and National Task Force (NTF) against Covid-19 chief Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. visited McDonald’s, Shakey’s, and Tim Ho Wan in SM North Edsa to observe dine-in demonstrations with social distancing and minimum health protocols.
In a statement, Lopez said the IATF had approved the guidelines on minimum health protocols for dine-in services, as follows:
* Properly sanitized tables and chairs (after each customer’s use);
* Distancing of tables and chairs to at least one meter apart on all sides;
* Face-to-face seating allowed only with proper dividers;
* Visible floor markings for guidance of clients in queueing, preferably color-coded;
* Proper ventilation in the establishment;
* Visibility and accessibility of sanitizing equipment and tools;
* Provision of food menus per table;
* Contactless order-taking;
* Covering pieces of furniture made of porous materials with plastic for ease of sanitation;
* Clean trash bins for used papers and used tissue;
* Clean washrooms and toilets with sufficient soap, water, tissue, and toilet paper; and
* Disinfection of high-risk areas, such as order and bar counters every 30 minutes.
The guidelines also mandate the establishment of service stations: designated area for take-away/pick-up; separate handwashing sink for kitchen staff and dine-in customers; contactless drive-thru counters; and, the closure of play areas.
Metro Manila, Central Visayas, Central Luzon, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Pangasinan, Davao City and Zamboanga City are still under GCQ until June 15.
The rest of the country is under modified GCQ, which is the transition phase towards the new normal.
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to meet with the IATF on June 15 and announce new quarantine classifications. (Marites Villamor-Ilano/Jove Moya)