Restaurants, coffee shops and cafes outside shopping malls in Abu Dhabi have been issued new safety guidelines to allow more dine-in guests.
Authorities have established a series of rules they must follow to operate safely, including limiting establishments’ capacity to 40 per cent, up from previous 30%
People above the age of 60, children under 12 and those with chronic diseases should be prevented from entering.
All staff must be tested for Covid-19, and if any employees show symptoms, they must immediately be taken to the nearest screening centre.
If a food handler contracts the virus, the establishment should be closed, according to the rules set by the Department of Economic Development.
No more than four people are allowed per table and waiting areas should remain closed. Tables should be kept 2.5m apart.
Temperature checks should be carried out at the entrance for all staff and customers, and if anyone is found to have a fever, they will be denied entry.
Hand sanitiser should also be available at the entrance.
All buffets, open food displays, food samples, shared canapes and shisha will be barred.
Metal cutlery can only be used if the café has a dishwasher capable of cleaning utensils at high temperatures. Otherwise, only single-use cutlery should be used.
