COVID-19 Update: Reopening Restaurants and the Rise of Infections
All over the world, countries, states, and cities made controversial decisions to reopen non-essential businesses and dine-in for restaurants originally closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Whether due to social or economic pressure, with so little data to support reopening it was a gamble, did the gamble pay off?
With almost a month’s worth of data, we are now seeing a massive rise of new COVID-19 cases, many of which will lead to death.
China has reported 57 new cases, the highest number of new infections in over two months reportedly from markets that sold potentially tainted salmon and other meats. While 57 new cases may not seem like a lot compared to countries like the US which report new daily cases in the thousands but China has had some of the most stringent regulations to prevent COVID-19 spread in the world. Even if China is under-reporting its cases as many suspect they have in the past, it is even more significant that China admits to infections spreading beyond one city.
South Korea which had one of the lowest COVID-19 infection rates reported 34 new cases after restaurants, church services, and nightclubs were allowed to operate again. This shows that even countries that have widespread social distancing and contact tracing must remain vigilant.
Restaurants and Bars
Countries like China and South Korea have far more robust COVID-19 prevention programs and a more unified public opinion than countries like the US.
Just a month ago, hardest-hit states like New York, New Jersey, and Illinois reported a decline in new cases but the country as a whole was experiencing rising cases and deaths. But due to mounting pressures socially, politically, and economically almost every state has been forced to initiate phased reopenings. Most restaurants have been given the green light to reopen for dine-in as long as proper precautions are observed. Organizations like the CDC do not provide detailed guidelines for restaurants or bars since guidelines are heavily affected by the region, but this resource may help with more specific guidelines for bars and restaurants.
For a while, the numbers appeared to be good. There was no spike in infections directly after reopening but it may take up to two weeks before people begin to show symptoms. It is only now, after almost a month that we can start to see more accurate data on infection rates.
The death rate in the US is steadily declining but the infection rates for the last few weeks have been largely the same or “plateaued” as health experts would call it. New cases for the US hovered around 20,000 daily but new data suggests there will be a significant increase in the coming months as some states like Arkansas, Florida, and Texas are reporting more than double the number of infections over just a few days.
It is unclear at this point what exactly caused the sudden spike of infections across the country. Reopening the economy is one possibility but the spike may also be caused by improper safety measures during mass protests or just general complacency because of the declining death rate.
What we do know is that over a dozen Texas restaurants have been forced to shut down because of positive COVID-19 cases. The state recently allowed restaurants to operate at 75% capacity which may have contributed to overcrowding diners. Some of the restaurants that closed are Pappy’s Café, FM Kitchen & Bar, Alice Blue, Carrolton, Addison, and Zoli’s.
Restaurants in South Carolina have also closed down at an alarming rate due to positive COVID-19 cases. The Greg Norman Australian Grille, Flamingo Grill, and Rockefellers Raw Bar have all been forced to close to test their employees for COVID-19.
Across the US there are similar stories of dozens if not hundreds of restaurants in states like Indiana, Arizona, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and Kansas that have been forced to close in the last two weeks due to positive COVID-19 cases.
Despite the rise in COVID-19 cases, communities continue to relax guidelines or are ignoring them for convenience.
Orange County, California no longer requires face masks in public but health experts still urge the continued use of masks for the foreseeable future.
New York City’s Governor Andrew Cuomo threatened to shut down the city again after multiple reports that crowds of patrons were not wearing masks or social distancing in or around restaurants and bars.
Almost all Southern California bars and wineries are set to open by the end of the month. Health experts are especially wary of bars because of the proximity of people to each other without the ability to wear masks. Additionally, alcohol is notorious for lowering inhibitions, making it less likely for patrons to follow safety rules.
A disturbing investigation reveals that over 1,000 Los Angeles county restaurants are not following COVID-19 safety rules. The inspections do note that some restaurants may be having a difficult time due to protests in the area but that would still comprise a small percentage of restaurants not following safety guidelines.
Should Restaurants Remain Closed?
There isn’t enough data to determine whether or not restaurants are the main reason COVID-19 cases are spiking, but many experts say it is likely at least part of the reason.
But before we shut down all activity it is important to note that there are plenty of states that have reopened dine-in options that are continuing to show a decline in COVID-19 cases.
Minnesota, Ohio, Colorado, Delaware, and Rhode Island are all states that have opened restaurants for dine-in but are still managing to decrease COVID-19 cases.
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, and Pennsylvania similarly have opened their restaurants but for outdoor dining and are also managing to decrease COVID-19 cases.
While most of the states listed are much lower in density than states like California and New York, it is possible to safely reopen restaurants.
Most health experts agree that it should be possible to reopen and manage COVID-19 outbreaks. But it would require cooperation from everyone, restaurants, patrons, and the local government. Restaurants and bars should do their best to follow safety guidelines to protect their staff and customers.
Local government should do their best to spread necessary information on how to keep safe including detailed guidelines that everyone is expected to follow and enforce them to make sure everyone understands the expectations.
Customers have the difficult duty to protect themselves at the cost of convenience:
- It is up to each individual to make sure they have a face covering to protect others in case you are an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19.
- Everyone should practice good hand washing hygiene. Wash frequently and thoroughly for at least 20 seconds.
- Be wary of shared surfaces. Avoid touching any surface that is frequently touched like door handles, tabletops, condiment dispensers, menus as much as possible. Or wash your hands as soon as you can.
- The longer you are exposed to people the more likely it is to transmit or catch COVID-19. If you do decide to dine-in, the safest option is to eat and leave as quickly as possible.
- Finally, every person you come in contact with increases your chances of catching COVID-19. Avoid crowds whenever possible. If there is a restaurant that is crowded, it is up to you to leave and find another place to eat. Your safety and the safety of others should take precedence over a single meal.
