One of the first changes made to our daily lives following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States was the closure of in-house dining at restaurants. Favorite neighborhood food spots from San Francisco to Kansas City began offering curbside and delivery options instead of dine-in to stay busy and diners said goodbye to their weekend brunches.
But as the virus continues to slow down and states reopen, restaurants are opening back up again with limited capacity and services. One way is through dining al fresco, or outside eating. In regards to this option, it's important for restaurants to ask some important questions about the safety of eating and sitting outside. The main question is how can restaurants ensure they're being fair to both diners and pedestrians.
When answering these questions, restaurants need to look for ways to keep their diners safe through attentive service that also stays within social distancing and cleanliness standards.
Some cities are traditionally known for having plenty of outdoor, or al fresco, dining options, such as Miami, Chicago, Austin, and the NY restaurant industry. From corner cafes to outdoor coffee shops to ice houses down in Texas, dining al fresco is a staple in most states. But for restaurants that don't have outdoor dining options, having to adapt can be somewhat of a challenge.
It's also important to hold employees accountable for their own hygiene and cleanliness. This is done by requiring face masks to be worn throughout their entire shift and keeping their distance when serving guests. Gloves should also be worn at all times and changed out regularly.
While there is no known cure for COVID-19, keeping diners as safe as possible through the right approvals and cleaning methods helps to limit the spread and contact between other diners and servers.
At RMS and associated firms, business continues as usual. Our staff is remote-capable and available to handle all partners, brokers, and insureds at the present time.