Updated August 4, 2020
As restaurants and bars open to the public after months of closures, it is important to realize that eating out will increase a person’s risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus. Two of the most important public health measures for keeping illnesses to a minimum — mask usage and social distancing — are nearly impossible to observe while eating in restaurants. Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, advises on how to reduce risk at restaurants. He discusses table spacing, mask usage for servers, guest screening procedures, disposable utensils, table disinfection and outdoor seating. He also provides insight into whether or not the virus can spread via food.