The report shows adults infected with the virus were more than twice as likely to report dining out in the 14 days before getting sick.
Author: David Gonzalez (KHOU) Published: September 12, 2020
HOUSTON — Restaurants in Texas are still operating at a limited capacity under Gov. Greg Abbott’s executive order.
The restrictions are place to stop the spread of COVID-19.
However, a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows eating at restaurants may increase your risk of catching the virus.
For instance, restaurants have adjusted to being in business during the pandemic as best they can.
Take-out and delivery options have grown very popular but many people still enjoy dining out.
“I think people should be extraordinarily thoughtful in how they decide to go out,” Dr. Paul Biddinger, director of Emergency Preparedness Research, Evaluation and Practice program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health said.
He added, “Of course you have to take off your mask in order to eat and that changes the protection that we’ve been recommending now for so many months. “
The report shows adults infected with the virus were more than twice as likely to report dining out in the 14 days before getting sick.
“And if they are sharing a table with people that are not part of their household, part of their close environment, they should actually be discussing risk factors, recognizing still that we think that 30-60 percent of people can transmit COVID when they have minimal or no symptoms,” Dr. Biddinger said.
He believes there may be different risks between dining indoors versus on a patio.
Most restaurants are doing what they can to protect people by limiting capacity and spacing out tables.
In a statement, the Texas Restaurant Association said the study contained a number of flaws.
Now, more than ever, it is essential that the public is able to make decisions about activities outside of their home based on complete and accurate information about the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
We still do not find evidence of a systemic spread of the coronavirus coming from restaurants who are effectively following our Restaurant Reopening Guidance, encouraging guests to wear masks, social distancing, and practicing good hand hygiene. In effect, the lack of a direct correlation should be evidence that, when restaurants demonstrate effective mitigation efforts, the risk is low when dining outside or inside.