EatDrinkCardinia 18/05/2020

Reopen your Food & Drink Business to be COVID-19 Safe

Following the announcement yesterday by the Victorian Government, from 1 June cafes, restaurants and pubs are allowed 20 customers per enclosed space. In pubs, the public bar cannot be open but pub bistro/dining room can open. Everyone is encouraged to download the COVIDsafe app, and contact tracing is key, you will need ensure every customer provides name and contact details as a condition of being in the venue. From 22 June, it will increase to 50 customers per enclosed space and mid July to 100 customers per enclosed space, pending further Victorian Government announcements.

Here’s the Eat Drink Cardinia list, plus further information and resources to help you reopen your food and drink business.

Pre Opening Checks

  • Check Victorian Government’s restrictions and COVID safe plan.
  • Ensure COVID Safe training is undertaken by all staff.
  • Check food handling training is up to date.
  • Do a full business inspection check equipment, stock and undertake a full clean.
  • Create a COVID Safe Plan for the business and include:
    • Guidelines for workers.
    • Guidelines for contractors/suppliers – especially to minimise interactions with staff.
    • Guidelines for customers.
    • Clear messaging for all – stay at home if sick or unwell.
  • Develop a safe and practical roster to minimise time staff are in close contact.
  • Review and modify tasks that includes close contact, or overlapping of staff, for example one person on the coffee machine.
  • Keep front of house and back of house contact to a minimum.
  • Ensure appropriate cleaning and disinfection takes place.
  • Print up posters for front of house and back of house
  • Reduce seating and tables capacity in line with regulations, and place tables to ensure 1.5 metres apart, use markings to maintain distance.

Open for Business

  • Limit walk ins.
  • Encourage online and phone bookings.
  • Sign in or scan walk in customers.
  • Encourage customers to download COVID 19 tracking app.
  • Set up separate entry and exit points.
  • Separate order and collection points.
  • Include markings on the floors to identify 1.5 m distance between persons for queues and waiting areas.
  • Consider plexiglass for high volume interaction areas.
  • Remove waiting areas.
  • Organise contactless payment or online ordering.
  • Laminate menus, clean and sanitise after each use or have single use paper menus.
  • Display takeaway menus on windows outside venue.
  • No bar service – restrict service to table service only to minimise movement of patrons.
  • Identify staff routes for service.
  • No buffet or communal areas for water or condiments.
  • Stagger seating times, and manage duration of sittings to control flow of customers.

Record Keeping

Capture contact information for all customers (and guests at table), including name, email address and mobile number. Information must be kept for 28 days and only for the purpose of tracing COVID 19 infections. Make sure you keep separate from marketing database.

Hygiene & Cleaning

  • Make sure all staff practice good hygiene.
  • Provide hand washing facilities for staff and patrons with liquid soap, paper towels and sanitiser (at least 60% ethanol or 70% iso-propanol)
  • Non disposable cutlery and crockery to be washed in a commercial dishwasher.
  • Use disposable or recyclable where possible.
  • Use gloves for table clearing.
  • Clean frequently touched areas hourly with detergent or disinfectant, including counter tops, eftpos.
  • Clean surfaces used by customers, between customers, and always tables, chairs, stools.
  • Use disposable condiments.
  • No BYO containers, eg, Keep cups

Anything to add, get in touch and we’ll update this post!

Resources to be COVID-19 Safe

Below is information and resources pulled together information to help you reopen your food and drink business to be COVID-19 safe.

Australia’s 3 Step Road Map

The Federal Government’s 3 Step Framework for a COVIDSAFE Australia is a road map to reopen our businesses and communities.

Victoria’s Plan

Victoria’s plan to reopen restaurants and cafes was announced on 17 May. Find DHHS’s information Reopening restaurants and cafes here, and Health Victoria’s Advice for food businesses on Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). WorkSafe Victoria has information on COVID-19 and employer responsibilities.

Industry Resources

Restaurant & Catering Australia (R&CA) has created a Coronavirus Information Hub to keep business owners updated during the coronavirus pandemic. This includes information about the COVID-19 Hospitality Best Practice Training to ensure your venue is ready to open.

Eat Drink Cardinia COVID-19 Online Hub

COVID-19 Resources

How can I promote my business?

​List your business on the Eat Drink Cardinia website and you will receive free coverage of your business via the website and Eat Drink Cardinia social media platforms. Check to see if you are already listed as a basic listing (you can easily claim the listing) and upgrade to a feature listing for FREE. You won’t need to update your listing frequently, as there are links to your website and social media. Feature listings have the opportunity to be featured on the Eat Drink Cardinia blog and in the weekly email newsletter, as well as shout outs on social media.

Further Assistance

Please get in touch with Michelle if you require further assistance to reopen your business. With a diverse background in hospitality, administration, marketing and communications, as a Business Concierge at Marquet Events, she will help you stay focused on your business, to help you reopen and to further grow your business.

Eat Drink Cardinia

Connecting the artisan producers, eateries and food traders across the Cardinia region to consumers.

Are you a business? List your business today. Now more than ever it’s important to support our businesses. We”ll share the love 🖤

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