Hotels, restaurants should encourage takeaways and in-room dining: Health Ministry

The Health Ministry has come up with a new set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ease the nation into what is being called ‘Unlock 1.0’.

The SOPs for restaurants, workplaces, shopping malls, religious places and hotels have been rolled out to restrict any further transmission of the coronavirus.

According to the SOPs for restaurants, takeaways should be encouraged, instead of dine-in. Food delivery personnel should leave the packet at the customer’s door. Direct handover of the food packet to the customer will not be allowed. Hotels should advise guests to use room service, for dining purposes.

“The staff for home deliveries shall be screened thermally by the restaurant authorities prior to allowing home deliveries. Seating arrangement to be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained,” the SOPs stated.

“In restaurants, not more than 50% of seating capacity to be permitted. Disposable menus are advised to be used. Instead of cloth napkins, use of good quality disposable paper napkins to be encouraged,” the guidelines said.

In shopping malls gaming arcades, play areas and cinema halls will remain closed.

Religious places have been allowed to open up, but with stringent rules for worship. “Touching of statues, idols, holy books, etc., are not to be allowed. Large gatherings, congregation continue to be prohibited.”

In its SOPs for offices, the ministry stipulated staggering of office hours, lunch and coffee breaks. Any shops, stalls, cafeteria, etc., outside and within the office premises should follow social distancing norms at all times. Seating arrangement should be made in such a way that adequate social distancing is maintained.

The number of people in lifts shall be restricted, again maintaining social distancing. Temperature settings for all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30 degrees Celsius; relative humidity should be in the range of 40-70%, intake of fresh air should be as much as possible and cross ventilation should be adequate.