RIYADH — Serving food in restaurants will be banned in the event of failures in maintaining social distancing measures against coronavirus, according to the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing. The ministry said in a statement that updated health protocols for restaurants and cafes have been issued by the Public Health Authority (Weqaya). Under the new protocols, the limit for the number of people who can dine at one table has been abolished. However, the space between two tables must be a minimum of three meters. According to the updated protocols, the entry to restaurants and eateries is limited to people who have completed their vaccination schedule with immune status on the Tawakkalna application. Those groups who are excluded from taking the vaccine on medical grounds have been exempted from this requirement. The health status shall be verified by obligating customers to scan the QR code for automated verification of health status before entering restaurants and cafes. The QR code for automatic health verification permits shall be placed at the entrances, with enough space to ensure that there is no crowding. Employees shall be appointed at the entrances to ensure that customers complete the process. Shisha smoking is allowed in open places only and they are prohibited in indoors. The updated procedures include the application of social distancing in places for receiving orders and waiting in restaurants. A distance of one and a half meters between individuals shall be maintained at such places. Members of the same family will be treated as one individual and social distancing is not required among them. With regard to hygiene and health, the updated protocols indicate that customers must wear a mask at all times inside the food or beverage serving outlets, except when the person is eating or drinking in the places designated for it.
