Everyone has had it with the coronavirus. We desperately want to put this disease in the rearview mirror. But as we close in on 200,000 deaths from COVID-19, we have to recognize that precautions are still prudent. The CDC released a report this week detailing the most dangerous places to catch COVID-19 (MMWR, Sept. 11, 2020).
Why Bars and Restaurants Are Dangerous Places to Catch COVID-19:
Dining in restaurants can increase your risk for catching COVID-19. That’s what the CDC found after analyzing data from people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
There were 314 people in the study. Of those, 154 had tested positive during July. The other 160 were negative for the virus.
The CDC interviewed everyone about their community activities such as shopping, going to the office, attending church services, using public transportation, eating out or going to a bar.
People who tested positive were twice as likely to have eaten at a restaurant during the two weeks before they got sick. Equal numbers in both groups used some sort of facial covering and about the same number in each group visited someone or went shopping.
Dangerous Places to Catch COVID-19:
Here is what the CDC establishes. It’s just common sense:
“Reports of exposures in restaurants have been linked to air circulation. Direction, ventilation, and intensity of airflow might affect virus transmission, even if social distancing measures and mask use are implemented according to current guidance. Masks cannot be effectively worn while eating and drinking, whereas shopping and numerous other indoor activities do not preclude mask use.”
The CDC Conclusions:
“Findings from a case-control investigation of symptomatic outpatients from 11 U.S. health care facilities found that close contact with persons with known COVID-19 or going to locations that offer on-site eating and drinking options were associated with COVID-19 positivity. Adults with positive SARS-CoV-2 test results were approximately twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant than were those with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results.”
The People’s Pharmacy Perspective:
We love going out to eat, especially after a long, hard work week. Even better, we love enjoying a great meal with friends or family. But this damn virus is highly contagious. Just read our article about the Millinocket, Maine, wedding to get a sense of how easy it is to catch or spread this disease. Hint: The wedding and reception at the Big Moose Inn involved few face masks. Out of the 65 people who attended, 56 caught the virus!
Going to bars, coffee shops or restaurants appears to increase the risk for catching COVID-19 because it is impossible to eat or drink while wearing a mask. And there is no way to tell what the ventilation system is like in most establishments.
Although some restaurateurs are installing UV virus-killing lights in air ducts or ceilings, this is more the exception than the rule. Until we have a vaccine or better control of COVID-19, we think eating outside or buying take-out remains a better option than eating or drinking inside.
What Do You Think?
Please share your thoughts in the comment section below. If you would like to know more about aerosol virus transmission or safe ventilation, please listen to our podcast on Monday when we talk with two of the world’s foremost experts in these areas.
