How COVID-19 Affects the Service Industry
By Stephanie Duclos
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many into a stand still and caused the unemployment rate up by 1.4 million from last month according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many of these people were working in the food service industry.
The service industry has taken a massive downturn in profits and is now forced to utilize other methods of income besides their dining rooms. Many restaurants are cutting front of house employees and stick to to-go orders and drop off deliveries. CNN reports, ““Many restaurants” in Seattle reported a 40% drop in business last week.” Most restaurants across the world can relate to this statistic, as social distancing warnings and regulations become common.
Unemployed workers have been urged to apply for unemployment.“Workers will be able to get unemployment benefits if their workplace needs to reduce hours or close temporarily because of quarantines or sick workers who fall ill with coronavirus, according to a news release from the governor’s office,” CNN reports. Many people who relied on their service industry job are now struggling to stay afloat.
Nonprofits are now trying to ease the burden on low-income families who worked in the restaurant industry. Southern Smoke Foundation is donating aid to those in need.“Since it launched in 2015, the foundation has donated more than $1.6 million to food and beverage workers in need,” FOX News reports. More than 200 applications have come in daily during this pandemic, according to FOX News. This shows how desperate people are and how crucial the service industry is in their lives.
As to-go orders and “no contact” delivery become the norm, many people wonder how safe it is to order out from restaurants during this time. This uncertainty and stigma hinders maximum income, but restaurants are clear about the food handling procedure they use that limits the spread of COVID-19. “A lot of the delivery services are working on best practices,” Don Schaffner, an extension specialist in food science specializing in microbial risks, hand washing and cross-contamination told FOX News. Employees can be seen in a mask and gloves and are sure to be working while healthy with clean hands.
Research is also showing that ordering from restaurants does not increase the spread of the virus. FOX News reports,““There is no evidence out there that, so far with [Covid-19], that it’s foodborne-driven or food service-driven,this really is respiratory, person-to-person.” This statistic allows restaurants to keep afloat with a low possibility of the spread of the virus.
COVID-19 has changed the service industry immensely. I suspect, long term, that service industries will become more versatile. It will also be interesting to see what small, local restaurants come out of this alive.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/10/us/seattle-restaurants-customer-decrease-trnd/index.html
https://fox8.com/news/how-restaurants-keep-takeout-orders-safe-during-the-pandemic/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/20/health/food-safety-groceries-coronavirus-wellness/index.html
