Restaurant Kitchen And Wait Staffs Reminded To Wear Face Coverings
May 21, 2020 at 1:16 a.m.
Restaurant Kitchen And Wait Staffs Reminded To Wear Face Coverings
By David [email protected]
KCHD Administrator Bob Weaver said Wednesday afternoon that the state is nearing the end of Phase 2 of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s reopening of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants are allowed to be at 50% capacity.
However, in all the phases until the state is completely reopened – Phases 2, 3 and 4 – Weaver said kitchen staff and wait staff must all wear face coverings. That’s according to the state guidelines.
“That’s up to July 4, in every stage,” Weaver said. “They have to do it until July 4.”
Last Wednesday, at the weekly press briefing in Warsaw City Hall, Public Health Officer Dr. William Remington was asked if the KCHD was fielding a lot of calls about restaurants. At that time, he said it was not a concern he was hearing a lot about. That’s since changed, and Weaver said it was most likely due to restaurants opening up to dining-in.
At Wednesday’s press conference, the panel was told of a Latino restaurant where no employees were wearing face coverings as of Friday and the panel was asked if anyone was reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community, specifically at dining establishments, about the rules.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer responded, “I certainly know that they fall under the guidelines of the state, and I know that a lot of government communications are in different languages.”
He said the city has not sent out anything to any restaurants or businesses locally and didn’t think the county did either.
“We’re relying on what the governor’s executive orders have stated. And I’m almost certain that those are available in Spanish,” Thallemer said.
He said the city and downtown are following what the governor says.
“I think though, at least in the next phase, into phase three, as we’ve already answered, I think we feel comfortable moving into that next phase. As we get into 4 and potentially into 5, we’ve got more tools that are becoming available, so those openings are a little more tentative, I think. I’m more concerned about social gatherings of large numbers in the face of some of this surveillance data that we’re getting,” Thallemer said. “So, to answer your question, I feel like the local Spanish population and others that have different language needs, those are provided by the state and that’s where those directives are coming from.”
KCHD Administrator Bob Weaver said Wednesday afternoon that the state is nearing the end of Phase 2 of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s reopening of the state during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants are allowed to be at 50% capacity.
However, in all the phases until the state is completely reopened – Phases 2, 3 and 4 – Weaver said kitchen staff and wait staff must all wear face coverings. That’s according to the state guidelines.
“That’s up to July 4, in every stage,” Weaver said. “They have to do it until July 4.”
Last Wednesday, at the weekly press briefing in Warsaw City Hall, Public Health Officer Dr. William Remington was asked if the KCHD was fielding a lot of calls about restaurants. At that time, he said it was not a concern he was hearing a lot about. That’s since changed, and Weaver said it was most likely due to restaurants opening up to dining-in.
At Wednesday’s press conference, the panel was told of a Latino restaurant where no employees were wearing face coverings as of Friday and the panel was asked if anyone was reaching out to the Spanish-speaking community, specifically at dining establishments, about the rules.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer responded, “I certainly know that they fall under the guidelines of the state, and I know that a lot of government communications are in different languages.”
He said the city has not sent out anything to any restaurants or businesses locally and didn’t think the county did either.
“We’re relying on what the governor’s executive orders have stated. And I’m almost certain that those are available in Spanish,” Thallemer said.
He said the city and downtown are following what the governor says.
“I think though, at least in the next phase, into phase three, as we’ve already answered, I think we feel comfortable moving into that next phase. As we get into 4 and potentially into 5, we’ve got more tools that are becoming available, so those openings are a little more tentative, I think. I’m more concerned about social gatherings of large numbers in the face of some of this surveillance data that we’re getting,” Thallemer said. “So, to answer your question, I feel like the local Spanish population and others that have different language needs, those are provided by the state and that’s where those directives are coming from.”
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