Will restaurants and cafés set in green department reopen from June 2nd? It seems that it will be possible, but only if the health conditions allow it. It will all depend on the map unveiled this week as part as the second phase of the containment exit scheme.
In the meantime, let’s have a look at the containment exit health protocol common to the entire HCR trade (Hotel, Café, Restaurant). Shared by the GNI (National Self-Employed Workers’ Organization) with its members, this protocol enables them to get ready as well as possible for this new and determining step.
Hand washing for the staff and hand sanitizer for patrons
And among the measures imposed by this health protocol, we have several recommendations about hygiene first. The protocol recommends for instance room staff to wash their hands with soap or hand sanitizer every hour, or to wear white gloves (with hand washing as well). In the kitchen, employees must wash their hands every 30 minutes (or wear gloves). Hygiene caps or hair net caps are compulsory.
Moving on to cafés, bars and restaurants, employees must clean at the end of each service eat the table. For patrons, a hand sanitizer station will be available at the entrance. At the counter, protection will be guaranteed with a face shield worn by bartenders.
Social distancing and facemasks
In the room, café, bar, and restaurant patrons must wear a mask, excluding if they are seated at their tables. Social distancing rules are set and respected, based on 1 linear meter between 2 tables of guests (or with screens between tables).
The protocol also recommends setting a limit of 10 guests per table making an even group of people (family, friends) and pre-made.
Menu, payment: avoiding contact
In order to avoid contact, menus must be presented as often as possible in adapted format such as a blackboard, given out loud or available via a QR code. If a paper version is used, it must not be handled by several patrons. Or patron will have to use hand sanitizer before and after handling the menu.
To pay the bill, all contact-less payment means (pre-payment, bank transfer, credit card, QR code…) is privileged.
Following the release of this protocol this past May 22nd, the president of the federation of employers Didier Chenet let people know that a major gap remained. “The administration wishing to impose in our premises a four-square-meter social distancing. But we keep on expressing our unequivocal disagreement and advocating respect of one-meter social distancing and facemasks for the entire staff as soon as the one-meter distance cannot be held, especially when serving”. According to RTL, the requirement of leaving 4sqm between each patron is now left aside.
