The buffet is open again in Ohio restaurants and bars, but with self-service preventive measures to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
An order to reopen self-service food outlets in buffets, salads and catering halls took effect Thursday night in Buckeye State, with orders that eaters and business owners do their part to maintain social distance. before yielding, Governor Mike DeWine announced the Ohio Department of Health amendment. The amendment comes on the heels of one of the busiest weekends for restaurants of the year: Valentine’s Day.
The buffets were reopened in Ohio. (iStock)
All-you-can-eat enthusiasts will have to follow the rules before filling their plates. Customers must wear facial covers while using self-service food outlets and wait in line; buffet tables and salad bars should be spaced at least six feet apart; and service utensils must be sanitized and cleaned hourly, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
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The guidelines also suggest that customers use disposable napkins or waxed paper when handling common utensils.
During the pandemic, several restaurants and bars across the country stopped serving buffet food to avoid high-contact service areas that could promote the spread of the virus. It was a blow to the already difficult buffet restaurant industry, which shrank 26% between 1998 and 2017, as other restaurants grew, according to a Business Insider report.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest limiting the sharing of food tools and supplies and minimizing high-contact materials, such as serving spoons, “as far as possible; otherwise, limit the use of supplies and equipment by one group of workers at a time and clean and disinfect between use. “The CDC also recommends avoiding shared items, such as menus and condiments.