23rd March 2020

To: Licensee/Operator of food premises

Dear Sir/Madam,

Health advice on prevention of COVID-19 in food premises

To minimize the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in food premises, operators should maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (this department) has appealed by letter on 9 January 2020 to food business proprietors and food handlers to take precautionary measures with particular attention on the personal, food and environmental hygiene so as to ensure cleanliness on the premises and food safety. In light of the latest development of COVID-19, in addition to the above, this department further advises the operators of food premises to adopt the following measures:

Social distancing

Without affecting the approved layout, allow sufficient distance between tables, preferably at least 1 metre. Other measures that encourage social distancing can be considered, such as:

• Make takeaway an option to customers
• Avoid table sharing
• Modify seating arrangements to reduce direct face-to-face encounter  
   

Environmental hygiene

• Disinfect frequently touched areas such as door knobs and tabletops with disinfectants regularly
• Make alcohol-based sanitizers available at major touch-points: by the table, by the entrance and exit  
   

Personal hygiene

• Check their body temperature of the staff regularly
• When working, wear a face mask by the staff as appropriate  
   

Food hygiene

• Provide serving cutleries and whenever necessary, serve the dishes to the customers individually
• Wear disposable gloves when handling ready-to-eat food. Discard gloves when damaged, soiled, or when interruptions occur in the operation  
   

For the food safety and hygiene advice on the prevention of COVID-19 to the food premises, please visit (https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/whatsnew/files/Food_Safety_and_Hygiene_Advisory_for_Food_Premises_20200229v3.pdf). For updated information on COVID-19, please visit (www.coronavirus.gov.hk)

For continuous upkeep of environmental hygiene, food business operators and food handlers must make concerted and persistent efforts to ensure cleanliness of the premises and food safety to prevent the new communicable disease.  All relevant food business operators or food handlers shall stay vigilant and pay close attention to the guidelines, preventive measures or health advices issued by the Government. FEHD will take stringent enforcement action against offenders in defiance of environmental hygiene and food safety issues.