Is indoor dining safe now, especially in covered tents?
Is indoor dining safe now, especially in covered tents?
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Indoor dining is still high risk when it comes to dining during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if the dining takes place in covered tents. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 mostly spreads from person to person. The virus is transmitted from infected people when they cough, sneeze, talk, or sing, which can be transmitted through droplets in the air: droplets that fall and then are transmitted through surfaces, or through airborne transmission, which is when droplets are very light and remain suspended. An individual who might be in close proximity to an infected person can then inhale the virus and get infected themselves, or touching their nose, mouth, or eyes after touching the virus. The virus can even spread through people who do not show any symptoms but are infected with COVID-19. When dining indoors with individuals outside of your household, the risk for transmission of COVID-19, particularly through airborne transmission, is increased substantially compared to outdoor dining and dining at home. Covered tents that hold multiple tables at once have the possibility of being slightly safer than a fully insulated, indoor restaurant, but it depends on the design of the tent, and is still a risk given that multiple people from different households are sharing space without being in fully open outdoor air. Single-table tents are still a risk if they are not aired out for at least three hours before seating a new table, as COVID-19 that is aerosolized can remain in the air for up to three hours. If the three-hour time span is allotted for airing out single-table tents, the method is only effective if they’re used by individuals of the same household, and even then there’s a non-zero chance that COVID-19 could still be in the air if someone from a previous sitting was infected. The U.S. CDC ranks on-site dining with indoor seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart, and/or on-site dining with outdoor seating, but tables not spaced at least six feet apart as high risk, and ranks on-site dining with indoor seating or with seating capacity not reduced and tables not spaced at least 6 feet apart as highest risk. Design concerns to consider with regards to COVID-19 safety include airflow, which is extremely important for ventilating a space and decreasing risk (eg. three walls of tent seating as opposed to a fully enclosed four makes a significant difference); the number of people allowed in the space (the fewer people, the better); the distance between tables (at least 6 feet and the further the better); humidity levels, if relevant (the more humid, the better); and if the restaurant has explicit rules around mask use and safety.
Indoor dining is still high risk when it comes to dining during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if the dining takes place in covered tents. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 mostly spreads from person to person. The virus is transmitted from infected people when they cough, sneeze, talk, or sing, which can be transmitted through droplets in the air: droplets that fall and then are transmitted through surfaces, or through airborne transmission, which is when droplets are very light and remain suspended. An individual who might be in close proximity to an infected person can then inhale the virus and get infected themselves, or touching their nose, mouth, or eyes after touching the virus. The virus can even spread through people who do not show any symptoms but are infected with COVID-19. When dining indoors with individuals outside of your household, the risk for transmission of COVID-19, particularly through airborne transmission, is increased substantially compared to outdoor dining and dining at home. Covered tents that hold multiple tables at once have the possibility of being slightly safer than a fully insulated, indoor restaurant, but it depends on the design of the tent, and is still a risk given that multiple people from different households are sharing space without being in fully open outdoor air. Single-table tents are still a risk if they are not aired out for at least three hours before seating a new table, as COVID-19 that is aerosolized can remain in the air for up to three hours. If the three-hour time span is allotted for airing out single-table tents, the method is only effective if they’re used by individuals of the same household, and even then there’s a non-zero chance that COVID-19 could still be in the air if someone from a previous sitting was infected. The U.S. CDC ranks on-site dining with indoor seating capacity reduced to allow tables to be spaced at least 6 feet apart, and/or on-site dining with outdoor seating, but tables not spaced at least six feet apart as high risk, and ranks on-site dining with indoor seating or with seating capacity not reduced and tables not spaced at least 6 feet apart as highest risk. Design concerns to consider with regards to COVID-19 safety include airflow, which is extremely important for ventilating a space and decreasing risk (eg. three walls of tent seating as opposed to a fully enclosed four makes a significant difference); the number of people allowed in the space (the fewer people, the better); the distance between tables (at least 6 feet and the further the better); humidity levels, if relevant (the more humid, the better); and if the restaurant has explicit rules around mask use and safety.
Publication
What our experts say
Sinovac's Phase III clinical trials results ...CoronaVac's ability to protect people from severe COVID-19 infection is mixed as different trials and studies have shown different results. For example, a non-laboratory study in Chile among 10.5 million people found that the vaccine prevented symptoms of the virus in 67% of cases and prevented deaths by 80%. Phase III trials from a much smaller Turkish clinical trial (10,216 participants) showed that the vaccine prevented severe symptoms in 100% of cases. However, results from a Phase III clinical trial in Brazil showed 50.7% protection against symptomatic cases of COVID-19 but that number increased when people had at least 21 days between their two shots. This study of 12000 volunteers also showed 100% efficacy against severe and fatal infections. Sinovac Biotech said that participants who received the vaccines 21 days apart instead of 14 days apart had a higher level of protection.
Sinovac's Phase III clinical trials results ...CoronaVac's ability to protect people from severe COVID-19 infection is mixed as different trials and studies have shown different results. For example, a non-laboratory study in Chile among 10.5 million people found that the vaccine prevented symptoms of the virus in 67% of cases and prevented deaths by 80%. Phase III trials from a much smaller Turkish clinical trial (10,216 participants) showed that the vaccine prevented severe symptoms in 100% of cases. However, results from a Phase III clinical trial in Brazil showed 50.7% protection against symptomatic cases of COVID-19 but that number increased when people had at least 21 days between their two shots. This study of 12000 volunteers also showed 100% efficacy against severe and fatal infections. Sinovac Biotech said that participants who received the vaccines 21 days apart instead of 14 days apart had a higher level of protection.
Context and background
As states and cities have fluctuated in their decision-making on indoor dining, and given recent declines in COVID-19 case numbers as of early February 2021 in the U.S. and other locations, there have been questions circulating regarding whether indoor dining is now safe, especially in tents and other outdoor spaces that have been constructed during colder weather in some areas. It’s important to remember that until we reach herd immunity, there will still be high risks that come with resuming any activities that make it more likely to come in close contact with individuals outside of your household. And even once we reach herd immunity, lower risks will still remain.
If one does plan to dine out indoors -- whether completely indoors or in a tent -- the U.S. CDC recommends wearing masks as much as possible when not eating or drinking, particularly when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, frequently handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and closely following any post signs or verbal guidance provided in restaurants to keep as safe as possible.
As states and cities have fluctuated in their decision-making on indoor dining, and given recent declines in COVID-19 case numbers as of early February 2021 in the U.S. and other locations, there have been questions circulating regarding whether indoor dining is now safe, especially in tents and other outdoor spaces that have been constructed during colder weather in some areas. It’s important to remember that until we reach herd immunity, there will still be high risks that come with resuming any activities that make it more likely to come in close contact with individuals outside of your household. And even once we reach herd immunity, lower risks will still remain.
If one does plan to dine out indoors -- whether completely indoors or in a tent -- the U.S. CDC recommends wearing masks as much as possible when not eating or drinking, particularly when social distancing measures are difficult to maintain, frequently handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and closely following any post signs or verbal guidance provided in restaurants to keep as safe as possible.
Resources
- Considerations for Restaurant and Bar Operators (CDC)
- Social Distancing (U.S. CDC)
- Coronavirus, Social and Physical Distancing and Self-Quarantine (Johns Hopkins)
- Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations (WHO)
- Open Letter: It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19 (Clinical Infectious Diseases)
- Aboard the Diamond Princess, a Case Study in Aerosol Transmission (NYT)
- Mechanistic Transmission Modeling of COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Demonstrates the Importance of Aerosol Transmission (medRxiv)
- Aerosol and surface contamination of SARS-CoV-2 observed in quarantine and isolation care (Nature)
- Op-ed: Humidity can aid in the fight against COVID-19 (HSPH)
- Coronavirus Resource Center (Harvard Medical School)
- Restaurants are setting up tents and temporary structures to extend outdoor dining during the winter. But they come with their own hazards, and in some cases, could be riskier than eating indoors. (Business Insider)
- Considerations for Restaurant and Bar Operators (CDC)
- Social Distancing (U.S. CDC)
- Coronavirus, Social and Physical Distancing and Self-Quarantine (Johns Hopkins)
- Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations (WHO)
- Open Letter: It is Time to Address Airborne Transmission of COVID-19 (Clinical Infectious Diseases)
- Aboard the Diamond Princess, a Case Study in Aerosol Transmission (NYT)
- Mechanistic Transmission Modeling of COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Demonstrates the Importance of Aerosol Transmission (medRxiv)
- Aerosol and surface contamination of SARS-CoV-2 observed in quarantine and isolation care (Nature)
- Op-ed: Humidity can aid in the fight against COVID-19 (HSPH)
- Coronavirus Resource Center (Harvard Medical School)
- Restaurants are setting up tents and temporary structures to extend outdoor dining during the winter. But they come with their own hazards, and in some cases, could be riskier than eating indoors. (Business Insider)
