Question On Inside Or Outside Dining During The Pandemic....

[global1]

Many restaurants have put up canopies or open air tents for outside dining which is allowable during this pandemic.

As we start moving into Fall weather - if they enclose the tent - is it considered inside or outside dining?

[elleng]

1. Depends.

I've gone to several outside, southern MD on river and creek; hoping weather remains warm for a while.

[BigmanPigman]

2. It probably is an issue that will have various answers

depending on the state and city you live in as well as the style/design of the particular "tent". Some may have open sides and allow for space heaters and air circulation. I wonder if the scientific community will offer regulations and guidelines or if it will vary and we will get 30 different opinions from 30 different sources.

[Ms. Toad]

3. For purposes of risk - inside.

Once you enclose it, you confine the aerosolzed particles and droplets. The benefit of outside is that they have the wide outdoors in which to disperse.

[Merlot]

4. That seems the most realistic answer.

[LuckyCharms]

5. Since you can't smoke in that type of set up...

it is probably considered to be inside.

[Renew Deal]

6. Good question.

I think it's still outside. We'll see how it goes. It should still be good in most places for another 6-8 weeks.

[Ms. Toad]

9. Why would you take that risk -

knowing how much riskier indoor locations are than outdoor?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. If possible, stay outside.

You will be taking your masks off once you are seated. Remember that inside, in an enclosed space, the tiny droplets that enclose this virus and make it possible for others to breathe will take time to be dissipated. That is also true outdoors, but outside there are typically breezes and air movements that will do the same thing only faster.

If the enclosed tent is really and truly enclosed, then you are essentially inside. But if the walls are up, at least partially, you are outdoors or in an amalgam of indoors and outdoors.

Personally, I have dined indoors only once since the middle of March. That was about a week ago. My two friends, whom I get together with once a week or so, chose the restaurant and decided on indoor seating because the weather was iffy. The social distancing in the restaurant was excellent. I feel as safe as if we'd been outdoors.

A lot depends on where you live, what your climate is like. I have the good fortune to live in Santa Fe, which is pretty good for outdoor dining most of the year. I expect that as the weather turns cooler, the restaurants here will have the outdoor heating units which can be wonderful.

If you live in a northern climate, you are screwed.

But don't get me wrong. I LOVE northern climates and truly hard winters. I grew up in northern New York State and think that's a wonderful kind of place to be. But I do recognize that eating outside in such places won't be easy. You who live there have my genuine sympathy.

[Ms. Toad]

8. While you may have felt as safe as outdoors, you weren't.

Indoors traps aerosolized and droplet viral matter. So you were sitting in the cloud left by the prior (unknown to you) occupants of the table - and the clouds from other tables were expanding into your space, as well.

As long as tables are distanced - outside is far safer because the breezes disperse the exhaled clouds over a much greater area

A recent study indicated that people who tested positive for COVID recently were twice as likely to have eaten out than those who did not test positive. The study didn't differentiate between type of location (crowded indoor bar v. outdoor restaurant), based on prior studies it is pretty clear there are dramatic differences between any indoor environment and any outdoor environment.