We have received a lot of questions from restaurant businesses regarding the requirements of face coverings for employees and customers under the County of Los Angeles’ reopening guidelines.  Here is a compilation of the face covering requirements set forth in the County of Los Angeles’ Protocol for Restaurants Opening for On-Site Dining:

Employees

  • All employees who have contact with the public or other employees during their shift(s) are offered, at no cost, a cloth face The covering is to be worn by the employee at all times during the workday when in contact or likely to come into contact with others. Employees need not wear a cloth face covering when the employee is alone.
  • Face shields are provided and worn by wait staff and other employees when servicing customers not wearing a cloth face covering to eat and drink. The face shield is to be worn in addition to the cloth face covering. Cloth face coverings protect others from the wearer’s droplets; face shields help protect the wearer from other’s droplets.
  • All employees, vendors and delivery personnel have been provided instructions regarding maintaining physical distancing and the use face coverings when around others.
  • Physical distancing protocols should be used in any office areas, kitchens, pantries, walk-in freezers, or other high density high-traffic employee areas. Incidental contact is to be expected, however, the goal is to limit this to less than 15 minutes, preferably 10 minutes, and the employees are always wearing their face coverings.
  • Dishwashers are provided with equipment to protect their eyes, nose and mouth from contamination due to splash using a combination of face coverings, protective glasses, and/or face shields. Dishwashers are provided impermeable aprons and required to change frequently. Reusable protective equipment such as face shields and glasses are to be properly disinfected between uses.

Customers

  • Customers are instructed that they must wear cloth face coverings whenever they are not eating and/or drinking; this includes upon entry to the facility, when walking anywhere in the facility, and when using the restrooms. This applies to all adults and to children over the age of 2. Only individuals with chronic respiratory conditions or other medical conditions that make the use of a face covering hazardous are exempted from this requirement.
  • Customers may remove cloth face coverings while seated at a table and eating and/or drinking.
  • Customers who refuse to wear a cloth face covering may be refused service and asked to leave.

Notification Requirements

  • A sign notifying customers to use hand sanitizer and to wear a face covering when not eating or drinking is also posted at all entrances.
  • Online outlets of the establishment (website, social media, etc.) provide clear information about facility hours, required use of face coverings, policies in regard to preordering, reservations, prepayment, pickup and/or delivery and other relevant issues.