According to a study of outpatients from 11 US health carefacilities, those who were infected were about twice as likely to have dined ata restaurant in the previous 14 days.
The study from Centers For Disease Control and Prevention observed?314 adults who had showed symptoms ofCOVID-19 and had sought testing at one of 11 facilities across 10 states inJuly.
Of the participants, 154 tested positive for COVID-19, while160 tested negative and served as a control group.
To assess community and close contact exposures associatedwith COVID-19, the scientists, including those from the US National Institutesof Health, assessed the exposures reported by 154 adult case-patients, who werediagnosed using RT-PCR tests, and compared these with data from 160control-participants who showed symptoms, but had negative test results.
According to the study, the data collected by the scientistsfrom the participants included demographic characteristics, information onunderlying chronic medical conditions, symptoms, and self-rated physical andmental health.
They also collected data from the participants about closecontact ¨C within six feet for 15 minutes or more ¨C with a person with knownCOVID-19, workplace exposures, mask-wearing behaviour, and community activitiesin the last 14 days before they started experiencing symptoms.
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"Case-patients were more likely to have reported diningat a restaurant (any area designated by the restaurant, including indoor,patio, and outdoor seating) in the two weeks preceding illness onset than werecontrol-participants," the study noted.
¡°Masks cannot be effectively worn while eating and drinking,whereas shopping and numerous other indoor activities do not preclude maskuse,¡± researchers said in the report on Friday in the US Center for DiseaseControl and Prevention¡¯s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
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¡°Eating and drinking on-site at locations that offer suchoptions might be important risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection,¡±they added.
The study echoes concerns over safety in bars and restaurantsduring the pandemic. Many states have imposed restrictions on reopenedrestaurants, reports NPR.
CDC researchers recommend continued assessments of the risksof various activities especially as more schools, communities and workplacesreopen.