Ras Al Khaimah establishes guidelines for reopening of restaurants, cafés and gyms

The Ras Al Khaimah Department of Economic Development (RAKDED) has issued a series of requirements and procedures for reopening restaurants, cafés and gyms in the emirate, effective June 3.

These measures are aligned with the precautions undertaken to ensure the health and safety of customers while ensuring business continuity and maintaining the emirate’s sustainable development.

Prevention and hygiene requirements
RAKDED Circular No. (18) for the Year 2020 urges restaurants and cafés to conduct Covid-19 examinations on all employees, while sending any staff members who have developed respiratory symptoms home and committing them to seek medical attention immediately.

Employees are required to wear protective masks and gloves, while encouraging customers to do the same. Staff members and customers with temperatures exceeding 38 degrees Celsius are to be denied entry.

The directives called for shisha to be prohibited in the first phase of implementation and subject to reevaluation in the future as per the directives of health authorities in the UAE.

Comprehensive and periodic sanitisation must be conducted, in addition to disinfecting equipment each morning, evening and whenever necessary, while recording all such operations.

Operational capacity
Establishments are permitted to welcome customers up to 50 per cent of its maximum capacity, while making it mandatory to create spacing, interfaces and borders between tables to prevent mixing and crowding, with two meters between each table.

Only four people are to be allowed per table. Should there be a larger number, the tables that fit the number will be combined and spacing created between seats.

Serving food
All food and beverages must be served in disposable, single-use styrofoam containers, utensils and/or cups. It is advisable to serve food in single-sized portions intended mainly for one customer to avoid sharing plates as much as possible.

Other solutions
The circular called on restaurants and cafés to encourage e-payment solutions and credit cards to avoid cash, as well as to provide hand sanitisation essentials across the entire establishment, including on every table, which should be disinfected immediately after customers leave.

Self-service tables and open buffets are to be avoided, and F&B outlets are required to abide by set working hours.

Preparations for reopening gyms
RAKDED has issued another circular outlining the requirements and procedures for reopening gyms in the emirate.

Prevention and hygiene procedures before entering the gym
All staff at the facility must be tested for Covid-19 and must wear protective masks and gloves. Temperatures of all employees and patrons must be taken on arrival, denying entry to anyone recording a body temperature above 38 degrees Celsius.

After entering the gym
Seating and waiting areas must remain closed, while the main hall of the gym and all equipment should be sanitised periodically.

Equipment should be placed two meters apart and direct physical contact between gym attendees should be avoided.

Patrons are required to wear masks and gloves whenever possible, and the gym should provide hand sanitisers in all common areas.

Facilities are only allowed to utilise up to 50 per cent of their maximum capacity while jacuzzis, swimming pools, massage facilities and saunas must be periodically disinfected.

The UAE recorded 635 Covid-19 infections and two deaths on June 1, raising the tally of cases to 35,192.

Read: UAE reports 635 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths