Nuevos protocolos de seguridad en los restaurantes de Hoboken con asientos al aire libre

There are new safety protocols in place for restaurants and bars in Hoboken featuring outdoor seating.  On Monday, Mayor Ravi Bhalla signed an Executive Order establishing the new safety regulations.

Now anyone waiting for entry into an establishment, or those waiting to be seated outdoors, must be wearing a face covering.  Another new regulation prohibits “to go” alcoholic beverages for those customers waiting for entry into an establishment.

In addition, any customer who is consuming food or an alcoholic beverage must be seated.

According to a City press release, the new safety regulations are based upon input from business owners, residents and customers that were received by City Hall over the past seven days.

“The City of Hoboken is proud to assist our small business owners with creative and innovative ways to expand outdoor operations,” said Mayor Bhalla. “I’m glad the majority of business owners taking the necessary steps to protect the health and safety of both customers and employees. At the same time, based on feedback we’ve received, we are implementing additional safety measures that further protects our City and addresses overcrowding and social distancing issues that we’ve seen at a handful of establishments. I’m confident that these added precautions, along with the continued partnership of the City and our small businesses, will lend to a safer experience for everyone.”

Specifically, the Executive Order contains the following:

• Todas las empresas deben exigir que los clientes que esperen para entrar en un establecimiento o en un área de asientos al aire libre usen máscaras faciales y que mantengan una distancia social de al menos seis pies de distancia. No es necesario usar máscaras cuando se está sentado en un café al aire libre. 
• Ningún negocio está permitido servir bebidas “para ir” a clientes de pie mientras esperan una mesa
• La capacidad de un café al aire libre, de una cafetería al aire libre o de cualquier otra zona al aire libre está limitada al número de asientos disponibles.
• Sólo pueden ser servidos los clientes sentados, y todos deben estar sentados mientras consumen bebidas o alimentos.
• Como recordatorio, todas las mesas y sillas deben estar a seis pies de distancia, medidas desde la parte posterior de una silla con un patrón sentado, hasta la parte posterior del asiento en una mesa adyacente con un patrono sentado.

Any restaurant or bar that is not able to abide by these regulations, will be subject to the revocation or closure of their outdoor cafe seating privileges.  This would happen following a warning, verbal and/or written, by the Office of Emergency Management, or a violation issued by the Zoning Office or Police Department.