Is it safe to Dine-in in a restaurant amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic?

It’s been months when the lockdown started. Many had lost their job while some are still in floating status and isn’t sure when to resume working.

One of the most affected industries in this year 2020’s pandemic is the tourism and hospitality industry. The COVID-19 really devastated the business and lives of our people.

It is a peaceful afternoon while listening to the beat of music inside my favorite fast-food chain here in Iloilo to feed my hungry stomach after the grocery. It is just a few of us inside the store, far from the crowded place I used to.

Many establishments were opened to at least fuel our economy. Some already returned to work but in the skeletal schedule. Restaurants and malls were opened while observing strict DOH protocols to stop the spread of the virus.

The province of Iloilo is already under Modified General Community Quarantine as of the writing but the case (number of people infected) is still moving up. Many in the list are our Locally Stranded Individual or we call it LSI who came from the hotspot area of COVID-19 and some are our beloved Overseas Filipino Workers. There are few cases only from the local transmission but our Government is so keen to control the pandemic.

Restaurants in Iloilo are also adopting changes while some are already members of the delivery services offered by an app. These delivery services are a big help to this industry while helping our people not to go out if it is not necessary. Well, staying at home is still the best way to help our government in fighting against the pandemic without severely affecting some of our industry. It is just we must adapt to changes.

The virus might not stay forever but I am sure it will leave lessons to everybody. Change is constant that this industry must also adopt.

Dining-in in this time of pandemic in a restaurant will not assure your safety but with the help and cooperation of everyone, we can stop or at least minimize the spread of the virus.