Quick Guide To Dining Out For Consumers

by Rajat Mahajan July 13, 2021

As restaurants and bars reopen and continue to operate in certain parts of the country, restaurants and bars can follow certain guidelines to decrease risk to employees, customers, and communities while also slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Pointers to keep in mind at all times while dining out during COVID-19 times.

Guide for consumers while dining out during COVID-19

The more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. When consumers and servers wear masks in a disciplined manner, they may minimize the chance of COVID-19 spreading. Maintaining a minimum of 6 feet of distance is a must at all times.

Lowest Risk: Only drive-through, delivery, take-out, and curbside pickup
Increased Risk: Drive-thru, delivery, take-out, and curbside pickup are all emphasized. Only outdoor seating is available for dining on-site. Tables must be at least 6 feet apart, therefore seating capacity has been decreased.
Higher risk: On-site dining with indoor seating capacity restricted to at least 6 feet between tables. And/or on-site dining with outdoor seating can be but no tables that are more than six feet apart.
Highest Risk: Indoor sitting and on-site dining. Also, where tables are not at least 6 feet apart and seating capacity is not limited.

Decrease the risk of COVID-19 spread

Restaurant and bar owners and operators may take a few steps to help reduce the danger of COVID-19 exposure and transmission. These steps include servers wearing masks and shields, and gloves, using protective barriers between tables, sterilizing menus in a timely fashion - using disposable material like paper for menus is even better - and offering outside seating, is possible, are among the many steps. However, nothing beats the basic personal preventive strategies, such as handwashing, staying home when unwell, and wearing masks, to avoid the spread of COVID-19.