(First of two parts)
Since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infiltrated the Philippines in early 2020, the government had been implementing issuances aimed at making business establishments safer, while allowing their owners to recover from the consequent economic losses and their consumers to have a sense of normalcy in going about their daily activities.
As the number of COVID-19-related cases continues to fluctuate, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has recently issued Resolution No. 143, effectively amending its alert levels system for COVID-19 response across the Philippines. This includes adjusting the heightened restrictions on establishments in areas with the corresponding classifications under the system, such as, among others, the operating capacities of food establishments, establishments offering personal care services, indoor and outdoor tourist attractions, fitness centers and recreational venues.
With this development, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 21-02, which regulates the health and safety standards for restaurants offering indoor and outdoor dining services. Under this issuance, tabletop clear dividers made of acrylic or any similar, transparent material must be installed in order to prevent droplet transmission in face-to-face indoor seating arrangements. Meanwhile, either the same dividers or in their absence, alternate or diagonal seating arrangements shall be implemented for outdoor dining operations.
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Restaurant owners shall also ensure adequate air exchange in enclosed areas by: (a) opening windows to maximize natural ventilation; (b) using low-cost modifications, such as additional fans or exhaust fans, to improve air flow; (c) identifying and controlling multi-occupant spaces that are used regularly and are poorly ventilated; and (d) installing and regularly maintaining exhaust fans and air filtration devices with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters.
Physical distancing will still be maintained. Thus, adequate spacing for chairs and tables shall remain and unidirectional markers shall be used in queuing areas, while seating capacity shall be reduced pursuant to the prevailing alert level system where the food establishment is located. Moreover, visual cues or signages on the physical distancing requirement, cough and sneeze etiquette, proper hand hygiene and infection control, and other critical reminders under the government’s relevant programs, shall be installed in these establishments. Meanwhile, the use of playgrounds and self-service stations in these establishments is prohibited at this time.
