ABU DHABI — Restaurants, coffee shops, cafes and other licensed food outlets inside and outside malls in Abu Dhabi can now operate at 80 percent capacity amid strict coronavirus preventive measures. The move was announced on Wednesday by emirate's Department of Economic Development in a statement. "@AbuDhabiDED has issued circular instructing restaurants, coffee shops, cafes and other licensed food outlets inside and outside malls to operate at 80% capacity. This follows measures implemented by Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis & Disaster Committee for COVID-19 Pandemic," Abu Dhabi media office tweeted the statement. The announcement on Wednesday follows measures implemented by Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis & Disaster Committee for COVID-19 Pandemic. The department has outlined further precautionary measures that businesses must implement to ensure public safety which are the following: — Employees should undergo laser-based DPI screening every two weeks at designated test centers, and at-work temperature checks every two hours during working hours. — Vulnerable members of staff must be prevented from returning to work, with outlets relying on employees with low-risk health status in order to ensure workplace health and safety. — All staff members must have their body temperature checked on arrival using an infrared thermometer. Outlets located outside malls are permitted to use manual temperature screening devices. Entry must be denied to anyone displaying a high temperature. — All buffets, open food displays and food samples are to be restricted, except in hotels where buffets are served by dedicated waiters, as per guidelines outlined by Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA). — Face masks and gloves are mandatory. — Floor signage should be installed to indicate social distancing of two meters, and a maximum of four customers per table. — Reusable glasses, plates and cutlery can be used only if they are properly sanitized. Else, establishments must opt for single-use utensils. — Frequently touched surfaces and equipment should be regularly sanitized. — Fevers or virus symptoms among employees must be reported immediately to the Department of Health (DoH). — Businesses must encourage contactless payment methods.
