In this new COVID-19 world, activities that were once routine in the public sphere now come with a level of risk that must be considered. Although many businesses have reopened in Texas, there is a divergence between permitted activities like eating out at restaurants and what medical professionals currently deem safe.
Because of this, the decision to dine out must be weighed based on the prevalence of the virus in a community, each person’s own level of risk, and the well-being of those around them. Understanding the new landscape of restaurant dining and necessary safety measures can help make informed decisions.
Here are answers to common questions regarding the safety of eating out.
Is it safe to dine in at restaurants yet?
On May 1, restaurants throughout Texas were given the go-ahead by Gov. Greg Abbott to reopen dining rooms at 25% capacity ― a measure that superseded all local orders to remain closed. The capacity limit has since increased to 50% across the state, which seems to indicate that risk of infection has been lowered, but Dr. Philip Huang, the director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, says that isn’t the case in Dallas.
Dallas County created a color-coded system to communicate the community risk for COVID-19 transmission. It is broken down into four risk zones: red, orange, yellow and green. Dallas County is currently in the red zone, which means the public is at high risk of contracting the virus when engaging in social activities, including dining inside restaurants. In order to move into the orange zone, there must be a progressive, daily decrease in COVID-19 hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths in the county for more than 14 days.
“At this stage, to dine indoors is certainly not in our recommendations,” Huang says. “Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. People who are high risk should really be avoiding it. Right now we haven’t seen that 14-day decline that everyone has been looking for to really feel comfortable moving onto the next [risk zone]. So we still really recommend avoiding dining in and limiting it to drive-through, curbside takeout, delivery and those sorts of things.”
What safety measures are required to open dining rooms?
In addition to the capacity limit, the state issued a set of minimum protocols for restaurants with opened dining rooms. Tables must seat no more than six and be spaced 6 feet apart. Protocols include hand sanitizing stations at the restaurant entrance; no items like flatware, glassware and condiments on unoccupied tables; disposable menus; screening employees before each shift and sending symptomatic employees home; and face coverings if it is not feasible for staff to maintain 6 feet of separation from each other.
Although these safety measures aren’t exactly enforced, customers will likely indicate where they feel safe dining based on where they choose to eat and where they return to. Brian Luscher, director of culinary operations for 33 Restaurant Group, says safety is the new Yelp review trend. Instead of comments about pizza crust being to their liking, customers are sharing reviews of restaurants’ safety practices. The restaurant group reopened the dining rooms of two of its concepts, Union Bear in Plano and The Yard in McKinney.
“What we’re focused on is capturing our guests’ confidence through critical control points within the dining process,” Luscher says. “We want them to see sanitizing solution out and us in masks and gloves. We want them to see us managing social distancing. It’s more about us showing them what we’re doing than us being concerned about what they’re doing.”
Is it safe to order takeout now?
Ordering food for pickup or delivery is not any less safe now than it was before dining rooms reopened. There is nothing to indicate that risk of exposure is any higher for people ordering takeout from restaurants that have opened their dining rooms.
“It is really important to remind everyone that COVID-19 is not a food-borne illness,” says Dr. Emily Williams Knight, Ed.D. and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. “Restaurants are regulated by the health department every day of the year and are arguably one of the most regulated industries when it comes to serving the public.”
When ordering food for pickup or delivery, it is best to pay ahead of time if possible and minimize the number of interactions.
As for disinfecting takeout packaging, “it can’t hurt to do that, certainly,” Huang says, but regularly washing your hands and not touching your eyes, nose and mouth are more effective ways to avoid getting sick.
Do diners have to wear masks inside restaurants?
Diners are not required to wear masks, but it is encouraged in public spaces as much as possible.
Masks are effective in helping limit the spread of airborne particles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so even wearing one to and from your seat in a restaurant can make a difference.
Does staff have to wear masks?
There is no local or state mandate that requires restaurant workers to wear face masks, but restaurants can enforce their own requirements. Some restaurants require masks and gloves, while others have kept those safety measures optional.
According to Abbott’s Open Texas report, restaurant staff should wear face coverings if they are not able to maintain 6 feet of distance between themselves in their workspace.
Are reservations required?
It depends. Many restaurants switched to a reservation-only system upon reopening their dining rooms as a way to manage capacity and prevent crowds from gathering in their entrances, but this isn’t the case for every establishment. Call ahead to see if they take walk-ins or only seat people with reservations.
Is outdoor patio seating safer than indoor seating?
Overall, yes. Sitting outside rather than in an enclosed indoor space lowers the chance of airborne transmission. Just how much safer it is to sit outside is hard to say, but the difference in ventilation is significant.
“Outdoor in the fresh air is better than indoor in terms of ventilation,” Huang says.
The same precautions used inside are required for outside dining. Under Abbott’s order, patios do not have a capacity limitation like indoor seating, but all tables must still be separated by 6 feet.
What should someone do if a restaurant does not follow safety protocols or the mandated 50% capacity?
If a restaurant is not adhering to capacity limits or displaying the necessary safety measures, Knight says a little bit of understanding is the first step.
“I think we have to remember that this is new for everyone. It’s new for guests, it’s new for restaurants, it’s new for employees, and we’re just a few weeks into this,” Knight says.
“One of the things that we’ve been really trying to strongly suggest to both employees, owners and guests is that if you don’t feel that the safety guidelines and protocols are happening, then the first resort really needs to be a conversation with that restaurant manager. That is critically important. I think the more we engage in either public shaming or use of social media, it’s very counterproductive in helping that restaurant continue as they move forward on this incredibly new journey.”
What can diners do to help keep staff safe?
Customers looking out for the safety of restaurant employees is just as important as employees creating a safe environment for guests. Luscher says the biggest thing customers can do to help is to stay home if they are sick or have any symptoms. It is also imperative that guests respect and comply with the safety measures restaurants have in place, he adds.
“The No. 1 thing that any customer could do is to comply with what the restaurant or any business is asking them to do for safety precautions," he says. “If it’s something that they’re not comfortable doing, they simply don’t need to go to that restaurant or business.”
