CDC: Indoor Restaurant Dining Poses Risk

by

By Dan Bolton

The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) finds that adults with COVID-19 are about “twice as likely” to say they have dined at a restaurant during the 14 days before testing positive for the disease.

The study, which was limited to those experiencing symptoms, examined 314 adults at 11 different health care facilities in 10 states during July. Half (154) tested positive, and 160 tested negative for COVID-19.

Those who tested positive "were approximately twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant than were those with negative SARS-CoV-2 test results," according to the study. As a result, researchers recommend that "efforts to reduce possible exposures where mask use and social distancing are difficult to maintain, such as when eating and drinking, should be considered to protect customers, employees, and communities.”

“Adults with confirmed COVID-19 (case-patients) were approximately twice as likely as were control-participants to have reported dining at a restaurant in the 14 days before becoming ill,” according to the CDC. “In addition to dining at a restaurant, case-patients were more likely to report going to a bar/coffee shop,” according to the report released Sept. 11.

“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,” according to the study.

Researchers report that 71% of the COVID-19 positive patients said they wore masks in public; 74% of those who tested negative said they always wore face coverings in public.

“In this investigation, participants with and without COVID-19 reported generally similar community exposures, with the exception of going to locations with on-site eating and drinking options,” writes CDC.

Forty-two percent of those who tested positive reported having close contact with at least one person known to have COVID-19, most often family members.

The study mentions five limitations, including small sample size and the fact that participants were aware of their test results. “Of note, the question assessing dining at a restaurant did not distinguish between indoor and outdoor options,” according to researchers, who say additional research is warranted but caution that “eating and drinking on-site at locations might be important risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.”

Tags

by

Comments (1)

Comment Feed

China Flu and restaurants article

Question for the "researchers": of the 154 whoich tested positive, what was the severity of their symptoms, in other words, hw SICK were they or did they get? If they are like all the folks I know who have had it, they probably could not tell whether they had a cold or seasonal flu, or were just tired for a few days.
They then, toward the end, added the little factoid that above 40% of those testing positive had been exposed to KNOWN positive cases, mostly relatives. So if 71% reprted dining out, and 45% reported known exposure what REALLY is the risk incurred from dining out? The study DId admit there was no distinctioin between inside and outdoor dining. FUrther question: where ELSE had the 154 been that the 150 had not? Riding a bus, party at the beach, participating in riots/demonstrations, what else?
And one more important question: did the labs run any serology tests to determine vitamin D levels in the blood of the entire sample?
SDS are famous for taking a few titbits of data, massaging them and coming up with their "suggestions" that eating in restaurants "might be dangrous". They need to fill in a wole lot of blanks before making such declaratioins. The reaction to the disease has been worse than the disease itself. And CDC drive that.

Tionico more than 3 years ago

The STiR Coffee and Tea Newsletter is sent two times each month with news updates, important information, and upcoming events.