Eating Out During Covid-19
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented changes in daily life. When the government shut down restaurants, parks, and malls, life came to a sudden standstill. However, restaurants are slowly beginning to open up and allow indoor seating again. There is still a big risk when eating out though, so be sure to not let your guard down just yet.
Wash Your Hands
Something that has become normal for people to hear during the pandemic is to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly. This is especially important when you are going to eat. Unless you are continuously aware of what you are touching from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed, there is no way of knowing everything that you touch in a day. Even if you were able to control exactly what you touch, there is no way to control what your waitress/waiter has touched. In order to prevent the spread of germs, you should wash your hands. This gets rid of most germs and alone helps reduce the risk of people getting sick.
Keep Your Mask On
If you are not eating or drinking, your mask should remain on your face covering both your mouth and nose. At a restaurant, wearing a mask can be tricky. When you are taking your mask on and off, be sure not to touch the front of your mask. Use the ear elastic or some fabric farther from the front of the mask to remove/put on your mask. The front of your mask is the area covered in other people’s germs and bacteria and is keeping it from getting to you. If you do touch the front of your mask, wash your hands before touching anything else.
Look for Safety Precautions
A safe restaurant to eat at will have specific safety precautions set in place. Most restaurants have acrylic sneeze guards, similar to those you may have seen in buffets. These sneeze guards protect not only the restaurant staff but also their customers. Acrylic is easy to clean and is an effective way to block germs. This is also simple to put up and maintain, making it ideal for reducing the spread of germs from person to person
If you are hesitant to go out and eat during the Covid-19 pandemic, that is a good thing. However, if follow proper safety protocols, you can still safely go out and enjoy being at a restaurant again.