Starting today, June 15, restaurants in Metro Manila reopen their doors to customers dining in, albeit in a limited capacity.
If you’re one of the 30 percent allowed at a time to sit down and enjoy your meal, expect to see several changes in the whole dine-in experience.
New entry requirements
A “no mask, no entry” policy will be implemented to keep customers and crew members safe. Before entering store premises, customers have to go through three steps: step on disinfectant mats; have their temperatures checked; and sanitize their hands with alcohol/sanitizers provided.
In a statement, McDonald’s said all reopening stores would be implementing a one-door policy to manage the flow and movement of customers.
Keep your distance
Once in store, customers are required to follow physical distancing protocols, especially when queuing to order. Fast food chains such as Jollibee has installed floor markers, table markers, and seat markers guiding guests to keep at least one-meter distance from each other.
Meanwhile, at McDonald’s, customers will immediately see in-store safety enhancements to guide them while inside.
A dedicated crew member will be assigned to ensure safety protocols such as physical distancing, wearing of face masks, and contactless transactions are followed. Jollibee has Hygiene Ambassadors, while McDonald’s has Safety Managers.
Contactless service
When it’s your turn to order, expect to see transparent acrylic counter guards installed as a protection for customers and cashiers.
Cashless transactions using digital payment options are encouraged, but should customers pay with cash, they will be asked to place them in cash containers or trays to ensure no-touch policy is followed.
McDonald’s encourages customers to use their self-order kiosks, which, the chain said, are sanitized after every use. In a bid to avoid the crowding of customers at counters, the fast-food chain implements a table service where the crew will bring the food to the dine-in customers’ tables. For take-out orders, there will be a dedicated waiting area separate from the dine-in area.
Table shields
Diners are separated using transparent acrylic barriers installed on dining tables. This way, customers are protected but they can still enjoy a conversation while sitting diagonally from each other.
This time, customers are allowed to remove their face masks.
Frequent and intensive sanitation
Stores undergo intensive cleaning and sanitation before, during, and after business hours.
Disinfecting of frequently touched areas is also expected. Jollibee will disinfect door handles and other store surfaces and fixtures every 30 minutes. A crew at McDo will be offering sanitizers to the customers in-store every 30 minutes.
Stringent safety protocols in food preparation and handling are likewise in place.
Keeping employees safe
To ensure customers’ safety, employees are provided with protection and required to follow safety protocols as well.
To ensure that McDonald’s crew members are fit to work, they are required to regularly submit a health declaration form and a fit to work clearance if they experienced any sickness, whether or not related to the virus. Daily health checks are conducted, as well as temperature checks before and after their shift.
The company also provides a face mask or face shield, hand gloves, and a care kit for the use of its employees. The kit includes vitamins, face mask, and sanitizers.
Jollibee store members are likewise required to have their temperatures checked before entering the store, wear full protective gear provided for them, observe physical distancing, and practice regular hand washing and sanitation. Vitamin supplements are also provided to boost their immune system.
