In the absence of further details, a company canteen without CovidCheck is not currently possible. (Photo: Shutterstock)

In the absence of further details, a company canteen without CovidCheck is not currently possible. (Photo: Shutterstock)

Contrarily to schools and universities, company canteens and cafeterias have had to implement the CovidCheck scheme since 1 November. However, the ministry of health may reconsider its position.

It should have been crystal clear: starting 1 November, restaurants and pubs would implement CovidCheck, at least indoors, and the same would apply to canteens and cafeterias in the public and private sectors. Only school and university canteens are exempt from the rule. When questioned several times on this subject, the ministry of health repeatedly reaffirmed that this was indeed the application of the law.

But in practice, the situation is quite different. Last week, industry group Fedil sent a list of recommendations to its affiliates in order to manage their canteen or cafeteria as well as possible. They were advised to limit access, clearly mark routes, offer a take-away area to eat elsewhere... but also to plan a time when the premises would be in CovidCheck mode, for example between 11am and 2.30pm. During the rest of the time, everyone could come and eat there wearing a mask and respecting social distancing.

In search of an appropriate solution

But this measure is in direct conflict with the ministerial requirements. There is no need to set up a timetable, since the canteen of any company--whether it has adopted the CovidCheck regime or not in its other premises--is permanently under the CovidCheck rule as a restaurant establishment.

Fedil acknowledges the problem. Contacting Fedil, Delano’s sister publication Paperjam was told: "But this poses another big problem for night workers and shift workers: they do not have access to the canteen. Unless their company places a person there 24 hours a day to carry out checks, which seems illusory.”

The ministry might have underestimated the situation. Paperjam also contacted the ministry, which confirms that it is "aware of this problem" and is currently seeking "an appropriate solution". In the meantime, this is a new organisational problem that companies have to deal with, as they did not have enough details at the outset.

This story was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.