In news that came as a relief for some and a great worry for others, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order to reopen businesses in the state, with restaurants (at least those that are choosing to) set to reopen for dine-in service. Florida and South Carolina have also taken steps toward reopening their economies as well. The industry will be watching them all in the coming weeks as a model for what’s coming down the pipeline, whether that’s more widespread reopenings around the country or a protracted lockdown. So what will restaurant dining look like in states that reopen in the coming days and weeks? To be sure, there will be many precautions in place. In Georgia for starters, no more than 10 customers will be allowed inside a restaurant and no more than six people per table. While waiting for their table, guests will be separated by floor markings or waiting in cars. They can expect to see signs saying that no one with COVID-19 symptoms can enter. Employees must wear masks at all times and cannot come to work if they show any COVID-19 symptoms. Guests will no longer serve themselves in such areas as salad bars, buffets or stations used to store condiments, drinks and tableware. Restaurant operators will be screening and evaluating workers who show symptoms, providing enhanced food safety training to workers and taking such steps as pre-rolling silverware at each table. Under normal circumstances, these steps would sound comprehensive. But are they enough? What’s happening now in Hong Kong – no stranger to public health lockdowns – might provide some clues. A recent Eater report about the experience of dining in Hong Kong right now sounded fairly similar to the one set to happen in U.S. restaurants given the green light to reopen, with a key distinction: The writer said that upon entry to restaurants there, he must sign a form declaring that he had not left Hong Kong in the past 14 days, been with anyone outside of Hong Kong, or shown any COVID-19 symptoms. He then had to provide his name, phone number and email address so that if anyone at the restaurant that night tested positive, the restaurant could contact him. So even if he paid cash, which was allowed, the restaurant retained his data. That data privacy and protection issue is something that American consumers and businesses may struggle with. The next two weeks may indicate if this is a step restaurants must take nonetheless as states gear up to reopen.
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