Abu Dhabi prepares to reopen restaurants, cafes

The directives include limiting the capacity of restaurants to 40 per cent, ensuring that workers are virus-free through testing.

The Department of Economic Development, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, issued a circular on Wednesday detailing precautionary measures that must be taken in order to reopen restaurants, cafes and coffee shops outside shopping malls in Abu Dhabi.

In line with directives issued by @NCEMAUAE to curb the spread of COVID-19, @AbuDhabiDED in cooperation with @adafsa_gov issued a circular detailing precautionary measures that must be taken to reopen restaurants, cafes and coffee shops outside shopping malls in #AbuDhabi. pic.twitter.com/PDsqq330Xk
- ???? ?????? ???????? (@admediaoffice) June 17, 2020

The directives include limiting the capacity of restaurants to 40 per cent, ensuring that workers are virus-free through testing, ensuring a maximum of four people per table, and maintaining a distance of 2.5 metres between tables.
The guidelines also noted the following:
> Entry must only be permitted to those between the ages of 12 and 60. Those with chronic diseases must not be permitted entry either.
> All employees must wear face masks and gloves at all times while on duty.
> Staff must ensure regular temperature checks of employees. Anyone with a high temperature must be refused entry, and any employee displaying symptoms must be directed to the nearest medical centre for testing.
> Buffets, open food displays, food samples, shared canapés and shisha continue to be prohibited.
> Waiting areas must be closed.
> Establishments must use only single-use cutlery. Reusable cutlery can only be used if the facility has thermal dishwashers that ensure high-temperature sterilisation.
> In case a food handler contracts the virus, the establishment must be closed.
> Hand sanitisers must be installed at entry points.
> Surfaces and tools must be sanitised daily, while chairs and tables must be disinfected after every use. Toilets must be sanitised frequently too.
> Work hours must be consistent with the National Sterilisation Programme timings of 10pm to 6am.

• Abu Dhabi