The Los Angeles County Public Health Department issued a new order outlining protocols for businesses to follow. These new rules are designed to decrease COVID transmission risk in restaurant settings.

Some of these new rules for restaurants include:

• Employees that may come in contact with customers must wear both a face covering and a face shield at all times when interacting with customers and when in customer service areas.
• Outdoor dining table seating must be limited to no more than 6 people per table, all of whom must be from the same household.
• All establishments must post signage and verbally inform customers that everyone sharing a table must be from the same household.
• Outdoor tables must be repositioned or removed so that all tables are at least 8 feet apart.
• Televisions or other screens that broadcast programming must remain off until further notice.

Additional rules for breweries and wineries focus on meal requirements: a bona fide meal must be purchased along with the purchase of any alcoholic beverage. “Bona fide meals” are defined as a usual assortment of foods commonly ordered at various hours of the day that would be considered a legitimate meal; the service of prepackaged food like sandwiches or salads, or simply heating frozen or prepared meals, or serving only appetizers and snacks shall not be deemed compliant with the bona fide meal requirement. Breweries and wineries are also required to be closed between midnight and 11:30 am.

It remains unclear how these new public health rules for dining will be enforced by the Public Health Department and the Board of Supervisors.