COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines and Resources for Membership Based Bars, Clubs and Social Quarters

General Industry COVID-19 Guidelines

In these unprecedented and uncertain times it may be difficult to navigate the best practices on how to safely operate and reopen your establishment as restrictions are lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As an industry leader in the POS, Bar, Restaurant, Social Quarters and Charitable Gaming Management industries, we find ourselves in a unique position to provide useful information to your establishment to help you through this time. 

We have developed these suggested guidelines based on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), White House Guidelines (Opening Up America Again) and successful implementation efforts at bars, restaurants, and charitable organizations around the country.

These guidelines do not replace or take precedence over any federal, state or other regulatory requirements and are only meant to provide a baseline mitigation plan to build upon for your organization's unique needs.

Employers

Screen employees at the beginning of their shift for COVID-19 symptoms. Ask the following:

• Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19? 
• Are you experiencing a cough, shortness or breath or sore throat?
• Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours? 
• Have you had a new loss of smell or taste? 
• Have you had vomiting or diarrhea in the last 24 hours?

Ask any employees who display COVID-19 symptoms to leave the premises and advise them to seek medical care.

Conduct Temperature Checks at the beginning of an employee’s shift using a no-touch thermometer. CDC guidance states the minimum temperature that indicates a fever is 100.4 Fahrenheit. 

Implement Workplace Cleaning and Disinfection of common and high-traffic areas. 

Implement Social Distancing Guidelines, ask others to keep 6 feet apart.

Develop and implement policies and procedures for workforce contact tracing in the event an employee tests positive for COVID-19.

Employees

Continue to Practice Good Hygiene:

• Increase frequency of hand washing. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your face
• Sneeze or cough into a tissue or the inside of your elbow

Practice routine cleaning and disinfection of frequently used touched surfaces and workstations.

Wear a cloth face covering or mask.

Practice Social Distancing, keep at least 6 feet apart from others if possible.

Follow the guidelines provided by your employer.

Business Process Adaptations  

• Mitigate exposure in the workplace by implementing social distancing guidelines and modify scheduling
• Implement workplace cleaning and disinfection practices, according to CDC guidelines, with regular sanitization of high-touch surfaces at least every two hours.
• Sanitize all front-of-house contact surfaces including door handles, screens, phones, pens, POS systems, keyboards and other areas of hand contact every two hours, at a minimum.
• Place hand sanitizer stations on the bar counter top, in entryways, and bathrooms, as well as at cashier stations.
• Use menus that are disposable or sanitized between each use or display your menu using traditional or digital signage. 
• Have separate containers or cups for clean pens and used pens. Regularly sanitize used pens and replace them in the clean pens container. 
• Use rolled silverware/napkins stored in sealed bins (gloves should be used by staff while rolling silverware in designated sanitary areas).
• Sanitize all countertop & tabletop items, including condiments, after each table turns (or use disposables).
• Sanitize chairs, especially where contact occurs, after each table turns.
• Do not offer self-serve buffets, condiments on a counter for use by multiple tables, or beverage station re-use.

Clubs with Bar and Food COVID-19 Guidelines

In addition to the suggested guidelines below, Tab King recommends following the General Industry Guidelines as well any guidelines provided by the CDC, or any federal, state or other regulatory requirements. 

For Employers and Employees

Provide and complete ServSafe COVID-19 training for all customer facing staff as soon as possible.

Provide and use PPE equipment, including cloth face masks and disposable gloves.

To Protect Your Patrons

Limit the number of customers at your food service area or bar to 50% of seating capacity and diminish standing-room occupancy where applicable and appropriate. 

Tables should be 6 feet apart.

Mark waiting areas so that social distancing standards are met. 

Live Music should not be permitted.

Credit Cards should be the preferred method of payment, but if cash is used, all bills and change should be disinfected after receipt.

Provide hand sanitizer stations.

Use disposable menus or ones that can be sanitized after each use.

Use rolled silverware and napkins stored in sealed containers.

Sanitize all table surfaces including condiments after each use.

Sanitize chairs after each use.

Do not offer self service options such as buffets, condiments on a counter, or refillable beverage station. 

Screen customers for illness by:

• Checking for a temperature. Over 100.4 degrees Farenheight should not be permitted.
• Asking the following questions:
  • Have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
  • Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
  • Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?

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Electronic Pull Tabs COVID-19 Guidelines

In addition to the suggested guidelines below, Tab King recommends following the General Industry Guidelines as well any guidelines provided by the CDC, or any federal, state or other regulatory requirements.

To Protect Your Players

• E-Tab machines should be 6 feet apart and/or have dividers installed.
• Mark waiting areas so that social distancing standards are met. 
• Suggest players use cloth masks.
• Provide a sanitizing station nearby including hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes to encourage players to sanitize and disinfect before and after themselves.
• Sanitize the following between use of each player:
  • E-Tab Machine buttons
  • Console
  • Dividers
  • Chairs
  • Touch Screen (With approved touchscreen-safe wipes)
• Encourage players to use console buttons for game play whenever possible.
• Sanitize chairs after each use. 
• Screen players for illness by checking for a temperature. Over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit should not be permitted
• Ask the following questions:
  • Have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
  • Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
  • Have you had a fever in the last 48 hours?

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Paper Pull Tabs COVID-19 Guidelines

In addition to the suggested guidelines below, Tab King recommends following the General Industry Guidelines as well any guidelines provided by the CDC, or any federal, state or other regulatory requirements.

To Protect Your Staff and Players

• Encourage players to purchase with cashless payment options if permissible within your jurisdiction.
• Ask players to turn in tickets in batches, to reduce frequency of interactions. 
• If your organization is using a vending machine to sell paper pull tabs, provide a nearby table with cleaning supplies and ask players to sanitize before and after use. 
• Encourage players to wear a mask.

Bingo COVID-19 Guidelines

In addition to the suggested guidelines below, Tab King recommends following the General Industry Guidelines as well any guidelines provided by the CDC, or any federal, state or other regulatory requirements.

To Protect Your Staff and Players

• Encourage players to wear a mask. 
• Require operators to wear masks and gloves.
• Make hand sanitizer available to players. 
• Ask players to follow 6ft social distancing guidelines. 
• Stagger entry of players.

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