COVID-19 Operations Updates for Restaurants

As information on novel coronavirus COVID-19 continues to evolve, we will be sending regular updates with developments. Today, we'd like to share guidance for restaurants from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). 

As you know, DHEC is closely monitoring a rapidly emerging national outbreak of COVID-19 and is continuing to investigate and respond to cases of the virus in South Carolina. We understand that residents may have concerns about how the virus may impact South Carolinians. This includes the potential for exposure while at retail food establishments.

In response to the potential for an outbreak in South Carolina, DHEC is encouraging all retail food service establishments to be vigilant by emphasizing employee health and good hygiene and sanitation practices for your employees. While COVID-19 is not spread by food,actions should be taken to prevent the person to person spread of COVID-19 from an infected food worker to co-workers and/or restaurant patrons. Food workers should not work when sick or touch ready-to-eat foods with bare hands. They should carefully wash their hands with warm water and soap often, and after using the restroom.

Other steps you can take to help South Carolinians stay healthy include:

• Covering coughs and sneezes
• Appropriately disposing of tissues and other items you’ve coughed and sneezed into
• Ensuring routine environmental cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and objects, such as tabletops, countertops, doorknobs, etc.
• Being prepared and informed

While this is a serious and rapidly evolving public health matter, the CDC continues to believe the risk to the American public remains low at this time. 

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is the name of the respiratory illness associated with the novel coronavirus that is circulating throughout the United States. The name of this new virus is SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus. Coronaviruses are common, in fact the “common cold” is caused by a coronavirus.

Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19

• Fever
• Cough 
• Shortness of breath

Incubation period

• The time between catching the illness and the first symptoms showing up ranges between 2-14 days.

How is COVID-19 is spread?

The virus is thought to spread:

• Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet) for 10 minutes or longer.
• Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
• Foodborne or fecal-oral transmission is NOT thought to contribute to disease spread.
• These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. They may also land on hard surfaces that people touch with their hands and then touch their faces (scratch their noses, rub their eyes, wipe their mouths).  

Who is at Risk?

Some people are at higher risk of getting very sick from this illness. This includes:

• Older people (over age 60), especially those over 80 years.
• People who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart, lung, or kidney disease, or diabetes.
• Old people with chronic medical conditions are at greatest risk.

Treatment

There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 and there is no vaccine to prevent illness. People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases, treatment should include care to support vital organ functions.

If you have an employee who tests positive for COVID-19, contact DHEC (803-896-0640) immediately. 

Please update us on the impacts of COVID-19 on your business.

We will be advocating for economic relief for this industry in the wake of this extraordinary event. Your stories will help us communicate to lawmakers the true impact. Please send stories that convey specific impact to us at newsletter@scrla.org. We will share your stories anonymously upon your request.  

We will continue to update you as we learn more about COVID-19 in South Carolina. We are working hard at the Federal, State and Local levels to help keep you, your guests, your employees, and your businesses safe, and we welcome your feedback as to what you need from us as this situation evolves. 

We will be hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 19 on how to respond to COVID-19. This webinar will feature employment law attorneys from Jackson Lewis and restaurant expert David Scott Peters. Click here to register.

For additional information from DHEC on Retail Food Service Establishments, please visit SCHEC.gov.

Thank you for everything you do for the restaurant industry, and for being such an integral part of our communities.

___________

Key takeaways from Governor McMaster's press conference on Sunday, March 15:

• 
  
• Schools will be closed for the month starting tomorrow, March 16th, including K-12, Universities, and Technical Schools
• All schools will be closing, with those districts having no known cases being allowed to be open Monday to prepare for distance learning. 
• Food centers set up for those students reliant on food provided in school
• State employers encouraged those "at-risk" to work from home. Private businesses are encouraged to do the same.
• Municipal Elections Postponed until after May 1st. 
• Utilities are to not suspend or disconnect service for non-payment during a state of emergency
• Non-essential travel for state employees suspended
• MUSC approved for testing by the FDA. Screenings are free via MUSC.care
• The general public does not need masks, and this creates unnecessary scarcity for healthcare professionals
• Parents urged to have age-appropriate conversations with their children, emphasizing personal hygiene and social distancing
• Stores will remain open- do not stockpile goods
• Looking to equip 3,000 buses with wi-fi to accommodate remote areas of the state needing internet access
• Bars and Restaurants to stay open, practice care- not shaking hands, covering nose and mouth while sneezing, etc.
• Crowds over 100 people are discouraged at this time

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Resource Page