San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced on Tuesday that restaurants in the city can begin offering sit-down dining service with safety measures in place June 12.
The mayor’s office will release an official change to the stay-at-home order later this week along with guidance for restaurants on how to reopen as soon as this Friday.
Restaurants will be required to maintain social distancing, and customers will only be allowed to enter establishments to use restrooms, order at an indoor counter, or access an outdoor space. Tables should be limited to six customers, except for members of the same household. Diners will be required to wear a face covering until they are seated and whenever they leave the table, for example to use the toilet.
In addition to reopening, restaurants can apply for permits to place tables in so-called “public right of way” spaces, including sidewalks, parking lanes, parks and plazas.
“Opening our restaurants is a big step that will help our struggling small businesses, our workers who need paychecks, and our residents who are ready to sit outside safely and enjoy a meal,” he said. Mayor Breed said in a statement. “We have supported our small businesses with economic grants and assistance throughout the pandemic and will continue to provide health guidance to help keep their employees and customers safe. Our continued reopening depends on each of us, as customers, employees and San Franciscans, to do our part by wearing our face coverings, keeping social distance, staying home when sick and following others. health guidelines that will slow the spread of the virus. ”
Breed also announced the reopening of in-store retail on June 15.
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Amy Graff is a digital editor at SFGATE. Email him: agraff@sfgate.com.
