For me...I have begun to wonder...

[busterbrown]

What about Restaurants with regards to the spread of Coronavirus.. Who knows who is preparing the food and preparing it on the plate... Realize they are wearing protective gear but none the less I'm a little concerned...about the manner in which food is prepared and served! This thread from the a.m. is not very optimistic..

Any thoughts.....thanks guys..

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213054870

[jimfields33]

1. You can't stop life

Do the best you can. If you live in Washington or California you may want to think about where to go but anywhere else. Keep living! Life’s short enough.

[uponit7771]

21. The Chinese beg to differ

[jimfields33]

22. We're not china

[uponit7771]

23. We agree we're not China, we're worse off seeing China acted in lighting speed...

... to tell the WHO and contain the virus after decentralizing information away from the provinces.

China gave the WHO the genetic sequence for CV19 on Jan 12, America's inept government still hasn't distributed a working WHO spec test to this day.

The CDC screw up is beyond scandalous.

[jimfields33]

25. Nope. Don't believe that. Just look at our death count compared to theirs.

[uponit7771]

32. US mortality rate is worse than China's, 400 infected 19 dead (link)

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/07/coronavirus-us-deaths-new-york-emergency-florida

This is without the distributed CDC tests

[dewsgirl]

2. I would certainly avoid any and all buffets.

[Funtatlaguy]

6. Golden Corral probably taking a big hit now.

[dewsgirl]

10. I know, I was thinking about this the other day.

I imagine CiCi's and pizza buffets will take a hit as well, not to mention China/seafood buffets.

[Ohiogal]

13. I drove past the Golden Corral around noon

in Hermitage, PA on Thursday, out doing errands .. I looked at the parking lot on purpose, curious if anyone was still going there due to all the virus concerns. Parking lot was full.

[uponit7771]

24. The fact 760 million Chinese were quarantined isn't socialized yet on purpose ...

... and once that sinks in people get it that this time is different.

[Wounded Bear]

3. The hospitality business in general is going to take a big hit...

It just will as people hunker down and stop going out.

Your personal concerns are reflected across the country.

Jobs will be lost, or at least slowed down to a crawl, and service industries in general will bear the brunt of it, which means more and more low income people fall off the grid and into poverty.

Shit be getting real.

[cwydro]

4. While in college, I worked at a number of chain restaurants.

Suffice it to say, I’ll not eat at any of them now.

And I made that decision long, long ago. Oh, the things I saw.

[Rorey]

11. Yes, I'm the odd one in my circle

I really don't at all enjoy eating in restaurants. I know what sometimes goes on behind the scenes, and besides that, I can usually make a much better meal at home at a fraction of the cost. Besides that, sitting in a crowded dining room is just not my cup of tea.

[cwydro]

16. I'm with you!

I do eat out on occasion, but only at certain restaurants.

[elleng]

5. HUGE hit on MANY/all aspects of the economy.

[Mike 03]

7. Contaminated food is one route for the spread of Norovirus

It's a different virus, but this is also the kind of thing I wish we had clarification on. It will be important to find out ultimately how many people aboard the Grand Princess are infected (once everybody has been tested).

I've also been wondering about eating fresh, uncooked vegetables. I haven't stopped yet, but it is a question.

Noroviruses. People often associate cruise ships with acute gastrointestinal illnesses such as norovirus, but acute gastrointestinal illness is relatively infrequent on cruise ships. ... You can get norovirus from an infected person, from contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.

Facts About Noroviruses on Cruise Ships

https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/pub/norovirus/norovirus.htm

Again, I understand this is not an exact corollary, but until we have explicit clarification, it's worth understanding how viruses spread on cruise ships.

[janterry]

8. I don't eat out much but I am limiting my exposure as much as possible

why not? I am not that young anymore. Why put myself at any risk? I have plenty of food in the house. I can do work around the house and in the yard (well, if the ground unfreezes enough!)

[AlexSFCA]

9. avoid at all costs

I avoid all restaurants for the last few weeks. It’s worse than airplanes. Grocery shopping is ok - wear gloves, wash everything with hot water. I do drive through for certain items. Economy will take a major hits but we ALL need to be serious about stopping the spread of the virus which means fundamentally changing our lifestyle for at least a few months. The key is to limit social exposure to bare minimum. The next step will be closing majority of schools throughout the nation as kids are perfect virus carriers - asymptomatic. Movie theaters - big NO! Hollywood can handle it. No panic - but each and every one of us has responsibility to strategically plan each day to avoid exposure.
Silver lining - perfect opportunity to go on a diet.

[customerserviceguy]

15. Well said

What Netflix and other streaming services have been doing to the movie business for years will finally be complete after COVID-19 goes away.

Hopefully, people will re-evaluate a lot of things, like the "need" to have face-to-face business meetings, or banking in person.

There's an old saying I remember from the first Earth Day fifty years ago:

"If you're not part of the solution, then you're probably part of the problem."

[BusyBeingBest]

12. We had take-out pho last night from our local place.

I submerged all the fixings (cilantro, sprouts, etc.) into the broth and microwaved the bejeezus out of it, because I have read the virus is heat-sensitive. Washed hands before and after touching all the stuff, handling the packaging, etc. Trying not to be paranoid but raw produce is the riskiest part of restaurant meals, IMO.

[customerserviceguy]

14. You probably

face more danger from your fellow diners that are in your vicinity for a half hour or so than you do from the worker who handled your food for a couple of minutes at most.

We're not eating out until this thing is really over with.

[MineralMan]

17. The precautions they take are woefully inadequate in a pandemic.

Who ever knows who is doing that work, really. If you've ever worked in a restaurant kitchen, you know that. The only thing that protects patrons, really, is heat from cooking the food.

That is why I do not eat salads in restaurants.

[Claritie Pixie]

18. China has implemented hygienic food "stores". Restaurants using disposable containers only.

These "stores" are mobile and travel around towns with fresh produce and other food items that have been washed and kept sealed.

[mshasta]

19. Restaurant owners should start providing training and arm

Their employees with disposable gloves, cleaning supplies, and for cooks wear a freaking mask gloves and cover your hair, a restaurant that protect us and their employees is getting my business

But sadly they don’t want to invest time and money and just complain about not having foot traffic,

Promoting a restaurant that is taking measures to offer a clean and safe environment along with good food is the way to stay afloat during this crisis

[rustydog]

20. I do not want to spread panic

You are concerned about the cook, dishwasher, waitress/waiter and cashier...What about the person sitting in the booth behind you or the table next to you. The guy in the same restroom?

The best thing at this time is to heed suggestions from CDC and your state health departments and infection control experts. If you are in the at-risk groups, stay inside. if you are sick, stay home. catch your cough with your elbow and wash your hands often especially before touching your face, eyes, nose, mouth. wipe your counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms. Stay 6 feet away from anyone coughing. In a store, stay 6 feet away from other shoppers. Don't go to the movies for a couple weeks until this clears. Wash your hands often.

If you develop symptoms, call your doctor before going to the ER. IF you go the doctor or ER , don a mask upon entering the area!
Save the CDC , your state and county health department sites in your computer favorites list for daily updates on the coronavirus emergency.

[Jarqui]

26. +1,000,000 - you're not spreading panic, you could be saving lives nt

[Ferrets are Cool]

31. Great advice. nt

[YOHABLO]

27. You never worried before the virus, why now?

There is no guarantee that any of the restaurant staff have thoroughly washed their hands before preparing food. So now you start to worry? If it bothers you that much stay home. Definitely stay away from places with buffets.

[LakeArenal]

28. Most restaurant employees are under paid and can easily lose their jobs.

I’m sure many feel they have to get to work or lose it.

[Srkdqltr]

29. As the only cook in my house,

There are days I can not stand to look in my kitchen, plan a meal and clean up after. Eating out , being served and cleaned up after is necessary for my sanity. I don't get viruses easily so out I will go. People on here are so wussy.

[Ferrets are Cool]

30. I have been waiting for the inevitable loss of customers due to this

very thing. A LOT of businesses are going to suffer because of this virus. And by businesses, I mean employees.