If you’ve received your vaccine (or vaccines), you might be eager to return to normal social activities like regularly dining indoors at restaurants. But is it safe to dine indoors? That’s the question on the minds of tens of millions of consumers.
Experts say if you want to dine out at a restaurant, you should do so cautiously, because there are no definitive answers and several unanswered questions about the safety of eating indoors. The reality is that we still have a long way to go and a lot to learn. And experts say we still need to be cautious when reopening or we could see another surge. The light at the end of the tunnel is a very bright spot, but it’s still a very long tunnel.
The rise of coronavirus variants could increase your risk of contracting or spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 — even if you’re vaccinated.
It’s true that access to the vaccines has expanded exponentially in recent months, with over 14% of the U.S. population vaccinated against COVID-19. But we’re nowhere close to herd immunity, which would be about 70% – 90% of people vaccinated.
Even though schools, restaurants, and bars and gyms are opening, we still need to stay in the gear of caution so we don’t lose the momentum we’ve gained.
Also, there is still insufficient evidence to know if vaccinated people can still carry and spread the virus.
Diners should be cautious and restaurant employees, due to their high levels of exposure, should be vigilant about correct mask wearing, handwashing, and staying home if ill. Having many unmasked people in one small area increases the risk for everyone there.
Even if you’re fully vaccinated, you could still cause harm to [people] because you might be a carrier. Outdoor dining is still the safest and most preferable option and when dining outdoors stay distant from others.
Diners should wear masks. You can’t throw caution to the wind. It is safe to dine with others who are fully vaccinated and if there are no other vulnerable people.
