Outdoor Dining Opens June 9

Outdoor Dining Opens June 9: Governor Andrew Cuomo announced this morning that outdoor dining will reopen in Westchester on Tuesday, June 9 when the seven counties in NY’s Mid Hudson Region formally enter Phase 2 of the NY Forward economic reopening plan. Reopening at retail stores, hair salons and barbershops, offices, real estate, construction and agricultural businesses were already part of the Phase 2 plan. Indoor restaurant dining remains part of the state’s Phase 3 reopening, that the Region is anticipated to qualify for by June 23.

Single use items, employee testing, masks and distancing

The New York StateDepartment of Health (DOH) also released detailed safety and hygiene guidance in three areas (people, places and processes) for restaurants to follow. Of primary importance is that restaurants must implement mandatory daily health screening for their employees. And follow strict CDC guidelines for any staff testing postitive for COVID-19. Employees must wear masks at all times. Diners also must wear masks except when they are at the table.

Restaurants must provide customers with single use, paper, disposable menus and/or menus that are displayed on white boards/chalk boards/televisions/projectors, where possible. They must also use single use condiments, and prepackaged or pre-rolled silverware. And must maintain hand hygiene stations at high touch areas for both staff and for customers waiting to be served food or drink.

Central to DOH guidance is maintaining standard six foot distancing protocols in all directions between tables, at bar areas, between staff, between staff and customers (when possible), or on waiting lines. Restaurants must also maintain distancing protocols in any indoor areas where customers may traffic for any purpose, including to reach outdoor dining areas or to use restrooms. Restaurants must limit seating at any one table to ten customers – who must all be of the same party. At communal tables, where multiple parties may be seated, the restaurant must maintain six feet distancing between parties. Indoor dining areas must remain closed. Restaurant owners must establish separate entrances/exits for customers and staff where possible and establish designated areas for deliveries. It is also recommended that they put in place measures to minimize bi-directional traffic.

Finally the DOH guidelines offer detailed hygiene, cleaning and disinfection measures as well as operational protocols for kitchen, back office and wait staff before, during and after dining hours. As well as, strict CDC guidelines on screening, testing, quarantining, and contact tracing regarding any employee who tests positive for the Coronavirus. You can see the full New York State Department of Health Guidance here.