California officials issued guidance regarding retail food, beverage, and other service venues. These venues bring people from multiple communities into close contact with each other and have the potential to increase the transmission of COVID-19.
“These are aggressive, but necessary actions to protect our communities,” said Governor Gavin Newsom. “We all have a role to play when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19. These establishments that are remaining open should think creatively about how they can continue to provide services to the community. Shifting operations to focus on pick -up and delivery options should be prioritized.”
The guidance will protect individuals attending and working at these venues and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community
Retail Beverage Service Venues:
- Bars, wineries, breweries, and pubs should be closed, except for restaurants that contain bars that serve meals provided by a full kitchen (see restaurant guidance below).
- This guidance is not intended to affect production of beer and wine.
- Bars, breweries, pubs, and wineries that include meals provided by a full kitchen should follow the restaurant guidance below.
Restaurants/Cafeterias:
- Reduce occupancy and capacity by 50 percent.
- Increase frequency of cleaning of menus, cash registers, receipt trays, condiment holders, writing instruments and other non-food contact surfaces that are frequently touched.
- Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members can participate together, stand in line together, etc.
- Limiting the number of people in lines.
- Separate spaces in the dining area into smaller components.
- Increase frequency of cleaning and sanitizing per CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection guidance.
- Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
- Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that the CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
- Restaurants that have drive-through or other pick-up/delivery options should encourage use of these when possible.
Food Trucks:
- Increase frequency of cleaning of menus, cash registers, receipt trays, condiment holders, writing instruments and other non-food contact surfaces that are frequently touched.
- Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members can participate together, stand in line together, etc.
- Limiting the number of people in lines.
- Increase frequency of cleaning and sanitizing per CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection guidance of all hard surfaces.
- Remind employees of best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Grocery Stores and Charitable Food Distribution Sites
- Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
- Limiting the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
- Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
- Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
- Stores that have online ordering with outside pick-up or delivery options should encourage use of these when possible instead of indoor shopping.
Certified Farmers’ Markets
- Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.
- Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
- Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
- Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
- Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.
- Suspend sampling activities.
- Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.
- Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.
The full guidance is available here.
California continues to issue guidance on preparing and protecting California from COVID-19. Consolidated guidance is available on California Department of Public Health’s Guidance page.
For more information on COVID-19 and California’s response visit the California Department of Public Health’s website.
***
This article was submitted by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Public Affairs. View the original post on the CDFA blog Planting Seeds.