Restaurant Tactic to Prevent COVID-19 Spread with Indoor Dining
So many restaurants have suffered economically as a result of the pandemic. As indoor dining has resumed, many restaurants have been planning ways to keep their business going. One restaurant in particular, City Winery, has decided to have its employees and customers take a COVID test in order to enter the restaurant. These rapid COVID tests will happen twice a week and a negative test will allow staff or customers inside the establishment. On the days that don't involve testing individuals, other precautions will take place, such as temperature checks and the spacing of tables. According to City Winery owners, the business has been down around 85% because of the pandemic.
This idea that City Winery and others have gathered for their restaurant(s) have downsides. To start, the rapid COVID tests do not have the best accuracy, which can falsely identify individuals as negative for the virus when they could be positive. This is an obvious issue and isn't very effective for what restaurants are paying for it. Another idea to be cautious about is the two days a week strategy. That leaves 5 days out of the week that testing isn't happening. Andrew Rigie, the executive director for the NYC Hospitality Alliance, mentioned that restaurants and other places should be given free testing resources that are funded by the government. With the downfall of many businesses, many can't afford the resources that they could use to make dining safer. With these given resources, businesses would be allowed to test more often and have a better system of safety.
Even though the emerging safety ideas have downsides, the effort to protect the public brings a good side. With the rapid testing, some of them can be accurate, which lets the individual(s) know that they have contracted the virus. This will of course protect others around them. Also, while City Winery guests are waiting about 15 minutes for their free COVID tests, they can enjoy a glass of wine in the designated wine-making area. This simple gesture makes the time seem shorter and worth waiting for a seat at the restaurant.
The rapid testing at restaurants can be an extra layer of protection against the spread of the virus, but should not replace the traditional mask-wearing and social distancing guidelines.
Access to free testing can also be distributed in other places besides restaurants. The resources can be used by people going to visit loved ones or in other types of businesses(i.e clothing stores). The efforts made to keep businesses going and to bring food to the tables of families are amazing to see and should be continued across the country.
What are your thoughts on City Winery's precautions? Should it be used more widespread?
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I think it's great to take precautions if we can be sure they are reliable. I don't know if there is much evidence that the disease is spreading in restaurants. Is there?
ReplyDeleteYeah! Ive seen many studies lately how the top places of spread now are restaurants, gyms, places of worship, etc.
ReplyDelete