Earlier today
Public Health Madison & Dane County
published
Emergency Order #7
, which updates restrictions on restaurants and bars due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Restaurants will be scaled back to service 25% of their approved seating capacity, while bars are shut down for indoor service. This order is effective as of July 2, 2020.
In this order, they identify restaurants “... as defined in Wis. Stats. Sec. 254.61(5) and whose sale of alcohol beverages accounts for 50% or less of the establishment’s gross receipts.” They go on to define “Bar” as “...an establishment in which fermented malt beverages are sold for consumption upon said premises and whose sale of alcohol beverages accounts for 51% or more of the establishment’s gross receipts and whose primary business is that of a bar.”
Highlights of the order that pertain to restaurants and bars include:
- Encourage pick-up and delivery options.
- Cease any customer self-service operations of all unpackaged food, such as salad bars and buffets. Beverage stations are exempt from this requirement.
- Prohibit customer self-dispensing of condiments.
- At restaurants, limit indoor dine-in capacity to 25% of approved seating capacity levels (this is down from 50% in the last Order). Space tables and chairs to ensure at least six (6) feet physical distancing between customers who are not members of the same household or living unit. Limit each table to six (6) customers who are members of the same household or living unit.
- Customers may enter bars only for the purposes of ordering, pickup, and payment of food or beverage or while in transit. (Under the previous order, bars were allowed to serve patrons who were distanced six feet apart).
- Outdoor seating is allowed. Space tables and chairs to ensure at least six (6) feet physical distancing between customers who are not members of the same household or living unit. Limit each table to six (6) customers who are members of the same household or living unit.
- In restaurants, maintain at least six (6) feet between each stool for customers that are not members of the same household or living unit.
- Customers must be seated at all times when not in transit.
- Sampling of food is prohibited.
Lodging (including hotels, motels, campgrounds, B&B, and vacation rentals) restrictions in the Order remain the same. Highlights of these include:
- Prohibit guests from congregating in lobbies or other common areas, including providing adequate space to adhere to physical distancing while queuing for front desk services.
- Adopt cleaning protocols for guest rooms and common areas based on PHMDC guidelines. Provide training for housekeeping associates for proper handling of linens and cleaning/disinfecting supplies and provide appropriate personal protective equipment.
WH&LA will continue to review orders as they are issued and advise on any additional changes.
Kind Regards,
Bill Elliott, CAE
President & CEO
