Source: forketers.com
Eating out during this current pandemic still comes with specific hazards. Here are a few questions that are answered by health experts and other leaders from different sectors. Generally, cafes and restaurants have been recommended to lessen their seating capacity or, in some countries, not to open at this time. For instance, most restaurants in America are advised only to accommodate 50% of people indoors. In the United Kingdom (including Tynemouth), most of their food establishments have closed their doors to prevent or stop the spread of COVID-19. Across the globe, social distancing guidelines are suggested, but not all countries enforce them appropriately. Thus, restaurants are forced to create their protocols for making their place safe for their employees and clients. In some areas, restaurants have reopened despite the strict measures being recommended. So the question is: If there were a chance that restaurants are open in your place, would you go? Is it safe?
With so much vagueness there is about the coronavirus, along with its continued proliferation and a testing procedure that isn’t reliable enough to identify and segregate everyone infected, it’s still not safe at all to announce businesses to reopen and restrictions to be lifted in public sectors. Although some states state that theirs is as safe as it should be, truthfully, there is no such thing is safe during this time, as safe means ‘zero risks.’ And since ‘zero risks’ is impossible, how can we minimize the threats that come with reopening businesses? Given the possible methods of transmission of the COVID-19 disease, would you consider dining out indoors or outdoors? With masks on or off? How would you pay?
Questions And Answered
These are queries that restaurant owners are contemplating right now, as a lot of them are getting ready to reopen. Others also ask businesses what their plans are to avoid virus transmission. There are also basic measures that all should think about and comply with, like getting updates from your community health sector about whether or not the coronavirus cases have decreased, practicing proper hygiene and other infection-control habits, and choosing delivery or takeout if cases in your area continue to rise.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
So what if your restaurant is bigger and with bigger spaces that can accommodate socially distanced tables? Is it safer than smaller restaurants? Apparently, yes. A larger, well-ventilated restaurant with more stringent restrictions in terms of the number of people permitted to dine in, and the number of people serving the customers is the safest. If you have a bigger area, you can organize the tables six feet farther from each other. Thus, a smaller restaurant poses a higher risk for the spread of infection, because sitting near someone who is infected poses as the highest risk so far. Proper ventilation is also a must.
Another question is: If I would eat at a restaurant with my family, should I be concerned about how many of us are going to sit in one table? How many is too much? According to the CDC, group gatherings should be limited to no more than 10, although other experts believe that a group this size would still be risky. If you’re with people that you’re living with, it’s fine. However, if you’re meeting with friends, eight or more is not a safe number.
Studies frequently reveal that the virus reproduces easily among groups of people in closed or small areas. The infection has been shown to happen when people from various households come together for certain activities that are done indoors, like dinner in a restaurant.
Source: commons.wikimedia.org
Summary
Dining out and social distancing is two things that still can’t be seen in all restaurants. People have trouble distancing themselves while sitting on a restaurant table, and they can’t wear masks when they’re eating. Thus, the risk of spreading the virus is clear. The best decision, then, is to continue limiting group dinners in restaurants. It is better not to introduce yourself with people that you haven’t been in close contact with for the past weeks. It is only safe to eat with those you’re living with. There is no ideal dining size, but the general rule would be the fewer, the better.