Dining Out During the Covid Pandemic

My what interesting times we live in. 2020 has been quite tumultuous and frightening to say the least. The year started with the death of an iconic basketball legend, Kobe Bryant. Nashville Tennessee got hit hard by a tornado, protests and political demonstrations advocating black lives matter (much overdue and still needs to be focused on), wild forest fires in California broke a record in terms of acreage engulfed in flames, two potential hurricanes are threatening to hit the Florida and Louisiana gulf coasts at the same time (first in history). We are still in August and the year is not over yet. As we try to normalize our lives with sports coming back and the hospitality industry, travel, shops, and restaurants are slowly and safely opening up to the public masses. What are some of the safety or precautionary measures done to keep us all safe?

The CDC offers the following considerations for ways in which operators can protect employees, customers, guests, and communities and slow the spread of COVID-19. Restaurants and bars can determine, in collaboration with state and local health officials (TN department of health or tn.gov ) whether and how to implement these considerations, making adjustments to meet the needs and circumstances of the local community. Implementation should be guided by what is feasible, practical, acceptable, and tailored to the needs of each community.

Guiding Principles to Keep in Mind

The more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread. The risk of COVID 19 spread increases in a restaurant or bar setting as follows:

• Lowest Risk: Food service limited to drive-thru, delivery, take-out, and curb-side pick up.

• More Risk: Drive-thru, delivery, take-out, and curb-side pick up emphasized. On-site dining limited to outdoor seating. Seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart.

• Even More Risk: On-site dining with both indoor and outdoor seating. Seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart.

• Highest Risk: On-site dining with both indoor and outdoor seating. Seating capacity not reduced and tables not spaced at least 6 feet apart.

COVID-19 is mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. Therefore personal prevention practices such as frequent hand-washing, staying home when sick, wearing a face mask when in public areas, and environmental cleaning and disinfection are important principles to abide by.

In Nashville Tennessee as of this article being written on August 28th 2020, restaurants and bars are in phase 2 of the Covid-19 protocol. What this means is all restaurants and bars are operating at 50% of the allowed occupancy level and spacing tables at least 6 feet apart. No customers are allowed to seat or congregate at or near the bar (update: starting on September 1st, bar seating will be allowed as long as bar seats are at least 6 feet apart). All bars must serve food and customers can not just be drinking alcoholic beverages without some kind of purchased food item. Last call for alcohol has recently been extended from 10pm to 10:30pm.

What are some interesting things that restaurants and bars are doing to protect their employees and guests besides the guideline stated above.

• Some establishments are taking your temperature before you dine and drink with them. Larger establishments such as hotels are taking guests and associates temperature and if cleared, gives you a wrist band for that specific day.

• Almost all establishments are asking that you wear a face mask upon entering, as well as donning the mask when in public areas and when going to the restroom.

• Glass shields or “sneeze guards” are being placed to separate and protect the food area from potential contamination. Movable glass separators are placed on tables to separate different customers from one another when physically separating 6 feet apart can be difficult.

• Visible stickers and signage stating to not seat here, and also stickers and signage in public areas to visually aid customers to stand 6 feet apart, even in elevators.

• Establishments are providing options such as virtual menus or QR codes instead of the traditional paper menus.

• Establishments are using hand held devices to obtain orders and to process payments with apple pay or credit cards with touchless or minimal physical contact.

• Separate staff and guest restrooms.

• Foot door stamp to open doors using your feet instead of your hands, for establishments that cannot afford motion sensor automatic door openers.

• Sanitizer stations and/or pumps located throughout the establishment.

• Stronger disinfectant spray used after wiping down and sanitizing guest tables, seats, and areas.

What are some guidelines customers should try to follow and understand

• If you have a medical condition, please do not visit a restaurant or bar. If you must, please wear a mask.

• The smaller independent restaurants and bars are financially struggling to stay open as many have already decided to close permanently, so please spend your money to help support local businesses to stay in business.

• Likewise, most of the staff, if not all, are making below minimum wage ($2.13/hr) to help the local owners to save on costs. So please take care of your servers and bartenders by giving them a tip ($gratuity$), any amount helps, it really does. I can’t tell people how to tip but if you can’t afford it or just had an off service experience, tip them 10%. If the service, environment, and food was good, tip them between 15%-25% or more. Don’t be that person that had a good time, food and experience and not tip. Shame on you! Leaving $3 or $4 on a $100 tab is almost worse than not leaving anything at all. Please, let’s all be kind and support each other in these trying times.

• Due to the lowered capacity, restaurants and bars need to turn their tables quicker and more efficiently to maximize their earning potential. Please don’t overextend your welcome, At most restaurants with limited seating during peak times when there's a wait, One Hour should be the max. At fine dining restaurants, keep it to 90 minutes to 2 hours. I understand you’re trying to catch up with friends and family, enjoy your meal and take the party elsewhere to reconnect and socialize. There’s a coffee shop and/or dessert shop within walking distance to almost all restaurants in Nashville. This will help support your local restaurant as well as your local coffee house.

Please, let’s all be good neighbors and stay as healthy and safe as possible. We can only hope for a better tomorrow and a positive future. Be kind to one another as we experience these strange times together as citizens of this incredible planet. As Woozie would always say, “Don’t embarrass the family” and above all else, “Don’t be a Dick!”