Is it safe to eat in a restaurant? Here’s what experts say about the coronavirus risk
Not so long ago, deciding whether to go out to eat was simple.
But as the country remains in the grip of the COVID-19 crisis, the decision — along with seemingly all other aspects of life right now — is complicated. Coronavirus-related restrictions have started to loosen across the U.S., and some restaurants are allowed to reopen their dining rooms to customers with certain rules and regulations in place.
Foodies, and those who just don’t like cooking, may be eager to get back to their favorite restaurants and to at least some sense of normalcy. Additionally, the return of dine-in customers is financially crucial for some places.
But is going out to eat truly safe yet? Here’s what experts have to say:
First, complete safety anywhere can’t be guaranteed — at least not anytime soon.
Interacting with others outside of the people you live with will always pose some risk until there is a vaccine, Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, told Delish.com.
And though President Donald Trump and other officials have promised one by the end of the year, vaccine development can take years.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said there’s no evidence the virus can be transmitted through food or food packaging. But there are other risks associated with eating in restaurants.
The safest way to get food from a restaurant is still via drive-thru, delivery or take-out services, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The risk increases when on-site dining is offered outside only, the CDC say. The risk increases more when indoor and outdoor seating are offered but capacity is reduced and tables are placed at least 6-feet apart.
The “highest risk” comes when there are no capacity limits or table spacing, the CDC say.
“The more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread,” CDC guidelines on restaurants say.
Research restaurants
Experts tell The New York Times it’s important to see what precautions a restaurant is taking before deciding to go.
Asking the staff or looking online or on social media to find out what safety measures are in place is a good idea. Another option is to check the restaurant out in person before deciding to dine there.
“A restaurant that looks exactly like it did before is probably not the kind of restaurant I want to go to,” Benjamin Chapman, a professor and food safety specialist at North Carolina State University, told the Times.
Crowding should be a major red flag, Craig W. Hedberg, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota, told the NYT.
“If people are crowded near the entrance or around the bar, or there’s a lot of interaction going on between staff and customers in close proximity, then obviously they’re not operating in a mode that’s designed to prevent transmission of the virus,” Hedberg said, according to the outlet.
Experts echoed similar ideas to Delish.com
Checking that restaurants are following guidelines — having tables a safe distance apart, having salad bars and such closed off and markers on the floor — is a good indicator of whether it’s safe to eat there, Delish reports.
One issue with eating in a restaurant is the lack of face mask use, the Atlantic reports. Masks should be worn to restaurants but will eventually have to be taken off to eat, and “a restaurant with a bunch of customers not covering their faces is not ideal.”
Other factors to consider
Ultimately, experts say individuals will have to make their own decisions about eating in restaurants based on their own circumstances. But there are factors that should be considered.
The situation in your community is one.
“I would certainly want to have some awareness of how much transmission seems to be going on in my community,” Hedberg told the Times. “So if you know that there are new cases continuing to be occurring every day in your community, you have to assume there’s going to be a risk for transmission in public settings.”
Your own health and risk is also an important factor.
Anyone with symptoms of the virus and anyone who has come into contact with someone who has it should always stay home, Hedberg tells The New York Times.
And those at a higher risk of complications should consider staying home.
“This isn’t a zero-risk scenario, and high-risk populations should proceed with caution,” Elizabeth Carlton, a professor at the Colorado School of Public Health, told the Atlantic.
It’s also important to consider whether the risk posed to yourself, other diners and restaurant workers outweighs the enjoyment of going out to eat, the Atlantic reports.
This story was originally published May 28, 2020 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Is it safe to eat in a restaurant? Here’s what experts say about the coronavirus risk."
