How safe are restaurants and eating out during COVID-19?

Restaurant safety and health risks when eating out have always been a concern, but with the novel coronavirus pandemic ongoing it has been a highly debated subject. In the beginning, most restaurants closed their doors completely, with those that remained open only serving customers via delivery or the curbside. Now that many states have loosened requirements and restaurants are opening their dining rooms the question many are asking is how safe are restaurants and is eating out safe?

Pre-COVID Safety

One of the functions of local health departments is the routine inspection of restaurants, including the kitchen, the food preparation, food storage areas, and the dining area. Many restaurants already meet or exceed the minimum requirements, and are graded accordingly. The restaurant inspections have a checklist used to determine if the restaurant is adhering to safe practices in the normal course of business. Included are such things as food storage, before and after being cooked, cleanliness of the kitchen, proper functioning cooking areas, and food prep areas. Then there is the dining room. This is the part that the customer sees, and the cleanliness and order of the dining area will leave a lasting impression.

Also, there is the issue of proper dishwashing, and of course, employee cleanliness. Are the employees washing their hands before handling or serving food? When a restaurant fails an inspection they are given a time frame, usually thirty days, to correct any deficiencies. All of this is in place in order to protect the public and ensure that everyone’s health is not compromised.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything, and the requirements to protect the health of the public have been raised. There are new measures that the FDA recommends, and that local, state, and federal governments require restaurants and bars to follow in order to stop the spread of the coronavirus in restaurants.

The Safest Way To Eat Out

After the current pandemic began to take shape many restaurants and bars were forced to close down or limit business to take-out, delivery, or curbside pick-up. According to the FDA, this is the safest practice with the least potential for contamination with COVID-19.

More Risk

The risk of contamination increases as contact with people and surfaces like doors, and tables increases. Limiting guest seating to outdoor-only and maintaining a six-foot distance minimizes exposure. The clients have little contact and are limited to outdoors.

The Greatest Risk

Once dining rooms are open then the risk increases. Opening doors, including restrooms, increases the risk, as well as the fact you are now in close quarters.

Other requirements

Besides basic cleanliness, restaurants are required to sanitize tables and door handles, and other commonly used areas. Employees must wear face coverings, and often gloves are required, especially for those handling food. Some restaurants are even checking patrons’ temperatures before entering the premises. Employees should not report to work if they are ill, or have any of the common symptoms of COVID-19. One of the highest risk factors comes from employees that have been exposed. If they have been exposed but are symptomless, then wearing a face covering and gloves and following sanitization guidelines should alleviate exposure to other employees and patrons.

Big restaurants with a larger building may be safer than smaller ones. The bigger establishments are able to more easily maintain a six-foot distance and safely serve clients versus a smaller building where patrons may not be at a safe distance.

Overlooked Risks

There are some highly trafficked areas that may tend to be overlooked when it comes to sanitization. These include the doorknobs or handles, bathroom doors, and the bathrooms themselves. The toilet, sink faucets, and the stall handles are breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses that can’t possibly be sanitized enough to eliminate exposure to coronavirus.

What about the chair that you sit on? Then there are salt and pepper shakers, ketchup, mustard, and other condiment bottles and other shared items. Restaurants can easily avoid contaminated condiments by switching to disposable packets.

Can You Really Be Safe?

The definitive answer is that no one is ever 100 percent safe when eating out. The risks are increased as more people are involved. There are practices that can be put in place that will minimize the risks of exposure. We can never be sure that every step has been taken to eliminate the risks. When you walk into a restaurant the risks are there. If everything is done right out front, then you probably assume that the kitchen and food preparation areas are following safe practices also. But, unless you follow the food throughout the entire process you really don’t know.

The safest option is to have your food delivered, or picked up at the curbside, or drive-thru as there is little chance for exposure. But, you still do not know what is going on. If a restaurant has been scoring high on health inspections pre-COVID, then that should be a good gauge for how they might handle sanitization during a pandemic.

The Bottom Line

It would be easy to just stay home or cook all of your food yourself. That might be the safest bet, but we all enjoy a good pizza delivered to our home or business, or Chinese take-out. Sometimes we are driving along and want a sandwich from our favorite fast-food establishment. Then there are the times when we want to celebrate by going out and splurging. In any of these cases, we must adhere to safe practices, and make sure that our favorite restaurants are doing the same.

When you arrive make sure that signs are visible detailing the requirements, and ask what steps are in place to ensure your safety. Look around and make sure that they are practicing what they say.

In Case of Exposure

If you do your part, and a restaurant does have in place safety measures as recommended by the CDC, and local, state, and federal governments, and you are exposed to COVID-19, you need help. Bennett Injury Law is here to provide

Charles Bennett

Charles Bennett is a Plaintiff’s trial attorney and trial consultant based in Dallas, Texas. His law firm, Bennett Injury Law, is a personal injury plaintiff’s law firm that specializes in 18-Wheeler and Commercial crashes, Wrongful Death, Traumatic Brain Damage, Motor Vehicle Crashes, and Workplace Injuries. Cases Charles has consulted on in 2019 have won over $35M in verdicts.