Staying safe while dining out!

As summer approaches and the temperatures start to increase many will want to head out to the beaches, boardwalks, or local pools if they are open. Commonly when you are out you will most likely eat out as well. As we have seen in the recent months restaurants were open for take-out and delivery only, restaurant seating wasn’t available yet, but slowly that changed and many started to open seating areas outside.  So, what are restaurants doing to keep you and your family safe while also trying to stay in business?

Restaurants are implementing several strategies to assure they are following proper guidelines that have been in place to remain open. The FDA has a checklist available to Food establishment owners to assure they are following re-opening standards and have also been advised to work with local regulatory/health authorities to discuss specific requirements.

Some requirements that you may see when you are out are:

·       Signs posted on how to stop the spread of COVID-19 and how to promote safety measures (i.e. wearing face coverings, handwashing, Social distancing etc.)

·       Increased are circulation of outdoor air (Windows, doors are open, and you will see the use of fans)

·       Highly touched surfaces are cleaned and disinfected more frequently, after each customer use (doorknobs, display cases, menus, checkout counters, grocery cart handles, etc)

·       Hand sanitizers are placed near highly touches surfaces

·       Employees are trained on proper hygiene

·       Employee health checks/screenings are up to CDC Standards

·       Policy in place for Employees and customers (Face coverings, Limit the amount of people in one space, minimize face to face contact, social distancing)

These are only a few items that you may notice most restaurants are acting on but there are more to the list that they must follow and should be practicing. Besides the restaurant taking these safety precautions you can also take steps in preventing the spread and limiting your exposure.

You may think this is a little extreme but now and days it’s better to safe then sorry. If you are eating out at a restaurant you can always take a bag that contains “Cleaning Supplies” Disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer. If you are seated at a table and see that it has already been cleaned there is no harm in wiping it down one more time with your own disinfecting wipe and put it in a little trash bag so you can toss it away at the end of your meal or you can walk it over to a near by trashcan. After, you can use your hand sanitizer to clean any germs you may have picked up. If you wanted to go above and beyond and take your own eating utensils (Fork, spoon, and Straw) you can and just wash when you get home. By doing so you are not only limiting your exposure, but you are also saving the environment by avoiding the use of plastic. You can find reusable straws, spoons, and forks online (Amazon is a great site to use!).

We are not here to tell you what you should and should not do, we just want to help you think about different ways to help you enjoy life during COVID. As we all adjust to a new way of living, we can only support and help give you by suggesting ways to stay healthy. Practice good hygiene, practice social distancing, wear a face covering and take precautions. We hope that this information has helped you! 

 For more updates and information check back with us every Monday for new information on how to adjust to life during Coronvirus (COVID- 19). Our goal is to make sure you have easy to access information that will help keep you and your loved ones safe. 

Thank you to all our heroes out on the front lines working hard , saving lives and keeping us safe. 

                                                                                                       HSP Appreciates you!