New Study Claims Dining In Restaurants Increases The Risk Of COVID-19 Spread

According to a study of outpatients from 11 US health care facilities, those who were infected were about twice as likely to have dined at a restaurant in the previous 14 days.

PTI

The study from Centers For Disease Control and Prevention observed 314 adults who had showed symptoms of COVID-19 and had sought testing at one of 11 facilities across 10 states in July.

Of the participants, 154 tested positive for COVID-19, while 160 tested negative and served as a control group.

To assess community and close contact exposures associated with COVID-19, the scientists, including those from the US National Institutes of Health, assessed the exposures reported by 154 adult case-patients, who were diagnosed using RT-PCR tests, and compared these with data from 160 control-participants who showed symptoms, but had negative test results.

According to the study, the data collected by the scientists from the participants included demographic characteristics, information on underlying chronic medical conditions, symptoms, and self-rated physical and mental health.

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They also collected data from the participants about close contact 每 within six feet for 15 minutes or more 每 with a person with known COVID-19, workplace exposures, mask-wearing behaviour, and community activities in the last 14 days before they started experiencing symptoms.

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"Case-patients were more likely to have reported dining at a restaurant (any area designated by the restaurant, including indoor, patio, and outdoor seating) in the two weeks preceding illness onset than were control-participants," the study noted.

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※Masks cannot be effectively worn while eating and drinking, whereas shopping and numerous other indoor activities do not preclude mask use,§ researchers said in the report on Friday in the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention＊s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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※Eating and drinking on-site at locations that offer such options might be important risk factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection,§ they added.

The study echoes concerns over safety in bars and restaurants during the pandemic. Many states have imposed restrictions on reopened restaurants, reports NPR.

CDC researchers recommend continued assessments of the risks of various activities especially as more schools, communities and workplaces reopen.