Some Safety Guidelines For UAE-Ites Who Are Heading For A Restaurant Amidst Pandemic
Uzma Batool
Take care of yourself and your loved ones and follow these safety measures against the deadly pandemic while venturing out to a restaurant.
Whoopee!! Finally, here is some good news!! Post-Eid-ul-Adha, the COVID-19 cases are steadily dipping. The corona cases have gone south even after the detection of the contagious Delta variant in June which is a great feat in itself. The UAE Government has been very proactive in handling the precarious situation and issues COVID guidelines on monthly basis and the efficacy can be seen in the declining corona cases. Now recently due to ease in COVID rules, the restaurants are seeing a steady boom in dining-in. But that does not mean being negligent at of cost of your health.
So, here are some basic guidelines also approved by the Dubai Health Authority. Follow them while going out for dining.
Stay Home If You Have Symptoms:
According to WHO, the Delta variant is a warning that the virus is evolving and is getting faster and fitter with time. This means watch out for any symptoms (Mild or Otherwise) that indicate that you might have contacted corona. Staying home is the best way to halt transmission until you are fully recovered. Remember we are socially responsible to take care of others as much as ourselves in these testing times. Stay Home Stay Safe
Maintain A Physical Distance:
Social distance and physical distance should be maintained while seating in a restaurant. Right now, a maximum of 10 people is allowed by the government to have a gathering in a restaurant while 6 in a café. Also, the Dubai government has issued restaurants to maintain two meters (which was 3-meters initially) distance between dining tables at all times.
Make Reservations In The Restaurant:
Let’s encourage reservations!! whenever you decide to meet up in a restaurant, make sure that you make an early reservation. A reservation shouts convenience in so many ways. It is safe, saves a lot of time, and control the flow of diners and restaurant can control the maximum capacity limit. Also, the anxiety to see throngs of people coming into restaurants will be in control too and you can have peace of mind while chit-chatting with your friends.
Don’t Share Food Or Drinks With Other While On The Table:
Once a major part of etiquettes as a dinner companion is to put others’ needs first before his or her own, has now become a COVID pet peeve for many. Do you know why? To stop the spreading of the virus, it is advisable to stop sharing food or drinks if you are sitting in a gathering of friends.
Sanitise Or Wash Your Hands Before And After Eating:
By now a complete personal COVID kit (including sanitizer, an extra towel, disinfectant) has become an unavoidable norm and it shouldn’t be missed while going to a restaurant. It is important to wash your hands and properly sanitize them before and after having food. Because there are little things that we keep on touching like door handles, lift buttons, cards, money, etc. so make sure your hands are properly disinfected.
Are we on the verge of becoming a cashless society? Well looks like the pandemic is pushing us towards the shift! While we are advised to limit human contact, that also includes paying via cash for purchasing or availing of any services. Scan your cards and mobiles while heading out of the restaurant to ensure physical distance.
Remember every activity that you do outside of the safety of home is a potential COVID risk. So let us follow these COVID measures to ensure maximum safety.
