Dining in tents during the pandemic? It may not be a safe way to eat out
While outdoor dining tents are safer than dining inside, they're not all equal.
By AP |
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Are dining tents a safe way to eat out during the pandemic?
Health experts say outdoor dining tents are generally safer than dining inside, but caution that they're not all equal.
Many restaurants are erecting individual tents, igloos and other outdoor structures that let people who are dining together avoid being indoors, where the coronavirus spreads more easily.
Experts say the structures should be well-ventilated. A tent with four walls and a roof, for example, might not have better ventilation than an indoor dining room.
"The more airflow through the structure, the better it is," says Dr. Isaac Weisfuse, a public health expert at Cornell University.
Igloos and individual tents are a creative solution but shouldn't be shared with people who aren't in your household, says Craig Hedberg, a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
"If it's keeping you from being in a common airspace with other people, then that's a good thing," he says.
Between parties, tents should be cleaned and left open for at least 20 minutes, says Aubree Gordon, an associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She also suggests servers should be able to leave food on a tray outside to minimize contact with diners.
Tents are helping many restaurants get through lean times. But they may cost extra. In Detroit, Lumen restaurant charges $30 per person to reserve a heated structure with windows for two hours. Lumen's igloos and greenhouses can each seat six people, and the party must spend at least $300.
Once a party leaves, the structure is cleaned, sprayed with sanitising fog and aired out for 30 minutes, says Gabby Milton, the restaurant's managing partner.
Health experts say outdoor dining tents are generally safer than dining inside, but caution that they're not all equal.
Many restaurants are erecting individual tents, igloos and other outdoor structures that let people who are dining together avoid being indoors, where the coronavirus spreads more easily.
Experts say the structures should be well-ventilated. A tent with four walls and a roof, for example, might not have better ventilation than an indoor dining room.
"The more airflow through the structure, the better it is," says Dr. Isaac Weisfuse, a public health expert at Cornell University.
Igloos and individual tents are a creative solution but shouldn't be shared with people who aren't in your household, says Craig Hedberg, a professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
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"If it's keeping you from being in a common airspace with other people, then that's a good thing," he says.
Between parties, tents should be cleaned and left open for at least 20 minutes, says Aubree Gordon, an associate professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. She also suggests servers should be able to leave food on a tray outside to minimize contact with diners.
Tents are helping many restaurants get through lean times. But they may cost extra. In Detroit, Lumen restaurant charges $30 per person to reserve a heated structure with windows for two hours. Lumen's igloos and greenhouses can each seat six people, and the party must spend at least $300.
Once a party leaves, the structure is cleaned, sprayed with sanitising fog and aired out for 30 minutes, says Gabby Milton, the restaurant's managing partner.
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The Maharashtra state government, led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackarey, has agreed to allow restaurant owners in the state to provide dine-in services from the first week of October.
While the restaurateurs are all set to resume business, they are also prioritising guest safety and taking all the necessary precautions. They are also optimistic that the reopening of eateries will help revive the dining industry which has taken a hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
ET Panache spoke to several restaurateurs to know their thoughts on the reopening of restaurants. Here’s what they said.
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