Grab a Menu … Fast: Restaurants are Ready for Diners

After nine weeks of head scratching – since Nov. 25 – why restaurants, which were already hurting due to COVID-19 restrictions, were closed to outdoor diners, the powers-that-be at the state level decided that voila! Diners are welcomed back to dine outside.

In late November, when LA County numbers were hovering at nine new deaths and 3,143 new positive cases in a day, the state shifted from a model of colored tiers to determine how restricted the County would be to a model reflecting the availability (or lack thereof) of ICU beds. When a County, like Los Angeles, went below a capacity of 15% available beds, a stringent lockdown would be enacted.

“Restaurants, bars, breweries and wineries remain closed for in-person dining and drinking, as there is high risk of transmission of COVID-19 when people are eating, drinking and talking together without a face covering, as happens when people are dining onsite at restaurants. They are permitted to remain open for pick-up, delivery, and take-out and breweries and wineries may remain open for retail sales at 20% occupancy.” (Los Angeles County Public Health statement, Nov. 28, 2020.)

On Dec. 28, Public Health stated, “Targeted Stay at Home Orders issued by the state – and adopted by the LA County Health Officer – were extended and remain in effect. These orders will remain in effect as long as hospital ICU capacity remains below the 15% threshold established by the state.”

On Tuesday, Public Health marked the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case. And, despite 291 new deaths and 5,927 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County reported by Public Health on that day, it was decided that the County, following the state’s lead, would revert to the prior metric of colored tiers with no real information offered as to the availability of ICU beds. I guess that there must be plenty available?

I know that for many small businesses, like restaurants, nail and hair salons, and many others, the loosening of restrictions is a godsend. But is it too little, too late? In the future, will we look back at the actions of our governing bodies – from the state to the county – and accept the decimation of so many businesses as a necessary byproduct of hard to make decisions? Or will it be determined that they were made by a governor who had a supersized ego that fed on holding hostage the state’s inhabitants?

In the meantime, I’m donning a mask and making dinner reservations at a local restaurant.

God knows restaurants need it.