It’s quite surreal how quickly things have escalated this week since the first case of Coronavirus was confirmed in South Africa. A week ago it was all still business as usual but since Monday, we have had to change the way we do business.

Working from home is being made possible by many companies but how does this affect the restaurant business whose primary revenue is generated by bums on seats. In Cape Town and Gauteng all public facilities have been closed and restaurants have been asked to focus on deliveries. But if you are out at a restaurant, most have put in tighter controls on how to operate during this time.

Personally I would advise to stay home if possible. The infection numbers are increasing rapidly and the only way to flatten the curve is to avoid contact.

Here are some of the measures being put in place by halaal restaurants around South Africa to help fight the spread of Coronavirus.
#FlattentheCurve

Bootlegger, Three Anchor Bay & other branches

More frequent sanitation procedures. Reusable cups will not be accepted and payment by card is encouraged to minimise handling of paper money.

Bagel Street, Sandton, Johannesburg

Trading hours unchanged. Encouraging delivery via UberEats and MrD.

Dolce Bakery, Observatory, Cape Town

Have ramped sanitisation and are maintaining good hygiene practices as always. Offer hand sanitizer to clients when they come in and they sanitize each table after each client has left. They also urge clients to tap when paying by card.

The Butcher’s Wife, Belgravia, Cape Town

Taking extra measures with food prep and sanitation. Also offering a delivery service.

The Empire Steak, Florida Road, Durban

Increased hygiene protocols and moving tables further apart to minimize contact between patrons.
Temporarily closing their children’s area to minimize contact between younger customers.
Requesting all customers who have been abroad in the last fourteen days to please wait a full fourteen days before visiting the restaurant.
Ramping up their home delivery and takeaway capacity.

La Rocca, Canal Walk, Cape Town

Enhanced sanitation throughout the store and sanitising dispensers will be placed at staff entrances and waiter stations. They have also stationed hand sanitisers at their doors to use on your arrival.

Brocka, Canal Walk & Rondebosch

Enhanced sanitation throughout the store and sanitising dispensers will be placed at staff entrances and waiter stations. They have also stationed hand sanitisers at their doors to use on your arrival.

Calisto’s, Atlas Junction, Johannesburg

Enhanced sanitation and additional training for staff.

Bagel Zone Benmore, Johannesburg

Bagel Zone Benmore and Bagel Zone Genesis both have increased delivery options and are on UberEATS. All food orders are made with gloves and all guidelines re sanitizing and washing of hands and surfaces etc are being strictly maintained.

Primi Xpress, Rosmead, Cape Town

Offer hand sanitiser on arrival. They will try to maintain 1.5m distance from customers. Are encouraging take-out instead of sit-down and offering a 20% discount on all take out orders.

Syriana, Sea Point, Cape Town

Increased sanitation using a 76% alcohol-based sanitizer.
All staff are wearing masks and have to wash their hands with an antibacterial hand wash every 15 minutes.
Boiling all cutlery and giving customers the option to use sealed plastic knives and forks.
Shisha’s are being cleaned with hot water after every use and also provide a new hose for every shisha so no customer uses the same hose. No customer can share a shisha.

Kwantu Game Reserve, Eastern Cape

Additional hygiene protocols implemented in the staff and internal operations.
Numerous stations set up with hand sanitizers for additional germ prevention.
Informational posters reminding guests of the best hygiene practices.
Kwantu is still operating as normal and welcomes all guests.

Bean Tree Cafe, Observatory, Cape Town

Beefed up sanitation processes. All stations are colour coded and follow all protocol in terms of hygiene and safety as per Q Pro and HACP standards. Our bathrooms and facilities have always been equipped with all health and safety measures. Masks and gloves are available and used as a precautionary measure.
All staff are adequately trained and are kept up to date with what is happening around the Corona Virus.

Mugg & Bean Kenilworth Centre and other branches

Increased sanitation processes.
Offers delivery via UberEats and MrD.

Rodeo Spur, Claremont and other branches

Increased sanitation processes and increased delivery offers via MrD, OrderIn or UberEats. Also new Call and Collect offers for a limited time.

Panarottis Kenilworth Centre and other branches

Staff hand alcohol-based sanitisation takes place every 30 minutes. 
We have also engaged with third party delivery suppliers, namely Uber Eats and Mr Delivery and they have assured us of all food safety measures they have implemented.
We encourage our customers to take advantage of our sanitary stations.
Staff members are being screened for any signs of illness and temperatures.

Food Lovers Eatery, The Towers, Cape Town

Increased sanitation practices.
Sending staff members home if they report to work ill or display any sign of illness during the day.
Have hand sanitisers available at the entrance and inside the store.
They are determined that to every extent possible, stores will stay open and fully stocked.