Melissa Matthews, Paul Kita

<p>There's something almost primal about having to venture out to <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a31976592/grocery-shopping-coronavirus-covid19-safety-health/" id="7d598c0b-8971-3e30-ac5c-bd3bd1fc1527">  procure your supermarket bounty </a> under a looming sense of fear. And, even if you're <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a32377843/how-to-get-fresh-food-delivered/" id="bec7ba0c-5213-30c3-ad86-666ab0254baf">  ordering your groceries </a> or doing <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/nutrition/a32240417/delivery-takeout-food-ordering-coronavirus-covid19-safety-health/" id="b635de13-c95b-3230-a82d-f4d4d802e8d6">  takeout </a> , that uneasiness still lingers.</p>

<p>For those of us not feasting off of our COVID-19 stockpile spoils, the simple act of assembling a meal creates stress where there wasn't before.</p>

<p>But at least under lockdown, there wasn't the stress of what to do when restaurants begin to open for sit-down service once again. This is happening across the United Statessanctioned and unsanctioned.</p>

<p>So, what, exactly happens (or should happen) when you decide to return to a restaurant to eat a meal during the coronavirus? </p>

<p>What things shouldand shouldn'tyou do in order to minimize your risk of catching the deadly virus or spreading it to others? Can you trust a restaurant to sanitize your dining space? Or should you take charge of that? And what about the whole mask thing?</p>

<p>To equip you with the best understanding of how to minimize your risk when (or if) you decide to venture out to a restaurant during COVID-19, we turned to a few experts for advice on how they'd approach dining out. </p>

<p>Microbiologist <a href="https://publichealth.arizona.edu/directory/kelly-reynolds" id="666b5366-af60-37e7-ad15-fc03f7965cb1">  Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D. </a> , director of the environment, exposure science and risk assessment center at the University of Arizona, and Roslyn Stone, chief operating officer of <a href="https://www.zerohourhealth.com/" id="a736440f-9d62-3f7b-a7af-66901bc8ff07">  Zero Hour Health </a> , explain what to expect when restaurants reopen.</p>

<h1> What expectations should people have when going out to eat at a restaurant now? </h1>

<p>Prepare yourself. If a restaurant is following all the necessary COVID-19 guidelines, it'll lookand actmuch differently than it did before.</p>

<p>These are the changes you most likely will (and should) see:</p>

<ul><li> Social distancing between tables </li><li> Increased ventilation via open window and/or preferred outdoor seating </li><li> Limiting the number of patrons a single wait staff serves at a time </li><li> Posted signage for staff and customers of proper hand-washing techniques </li><li> Posted signage assuring customers that the restaurant is following strict infection control precautions, such as those outlined by the CDC and OSHA </li><li> Disinfectant wipes and/or hand sanitizers freely available to staff and customers </li><li> Disposable paper menus </li><li> Contactless payments, like Venmo or other apps  </li><li> Staff wearing masks  </li><li> Limits to the number of people per party  </li><li> Waiting for your table outside the restaurant </li></ul>

<p>Again, these are signs of a good restaurant doing its job to protect its customers.</p>

<p>And restaurants will likely implement changes you can't see, according to Stone. Employees may have to complete an assessment detecting COVID-19 symptoms before they even show up to work. And many establishments are conducting temperature checks at the start of every shift. </p>

<h1> What measures should you take before going to a restaurant in order to minimize your risk of COVID-19? </h1>

Handsome adult bearded man indoors in cafe. Lifestyle concept photo with copy space. Picture with gray laptop and protective mask on the face

<p>"Before going to a restaurant, make sure you are not part of the problem in terms of spreading disease," says Reynolds. "Check your temperature. If it is over 100.4F, or if you are aware of any other symptoms of illness, stay home."</p>

<p>Even if you're healthy, Reynolds recommends washing your hands before eating and minimizing the number of surfaces you touch. (That includes your face.) She also says to wear a mask when you're not eating to minimize the spread of aerosols to others. </p>

<h1> What measures should you take during a sit-down meal at a restaurant in order to minimize your risk? </h1>

Unhappy friends protected from coronavirus

<p>"You can help restaurants out by bringing your own disinfecting wipes to decontaminate table tops, chair arm rests, salt and pepper shakers and any other commonly touched surfaces at the table," says Reynolds. </p>

<p>It's also a good idea to bring your own hand sanitizer and use it before and after eating. "Minimize the frequency and time you require wait staff to visit your table and respect social distancing recommendations when approaching other customers or staff," she says.</p>

<p>And then there's the whole mask ordealbecause, at some point, you will need to remove it to eat, of course.</p>

<p>Reynolds: "Be aware that touching the mask to your hands or surfaces can cause increased cross-contamination potentials. Keep your used mask away from other surfaces and sanitize your hands after touching your mask."</p>

<p>If this sounds like a lot of work, remember: You can stay home and skip all this.</p>

<h1> What measures should your take after a sit-down meal at a restaurant in order to minimize your risk? </h1>

<p>"During a pandemic, lingering in public spaces is not advised," says Reynolds. "After the meal, promptly leave the restaurant, keeping in mind standard precautions of social distancing and focused hygiene." </p>

<h1> Is there anything else people should consider as it pertains to sanitization and dining out in the current state of the world? </h1>

<p>"For some more susceptible populations, dining out may still feel too risky," says Reynolds. "Until states document a sustained decrease in the spread of COVID-19 and better testing, tracking and treatments are in place, the most vulnerable or highly cautions individuals are justified to stay home and order take-out as a safer alternative."</p>

Feeding yourself during the coronavirus COVID-19 can feel a little like you've switched into "hunt and gather" mode.

Here’s What to Do Before, During, and After Dining Out in the Coronavirus Pandemic

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Melissa Matthews, Paul Kita

Articles written by the author

Here’s What to Do Before, During, and After Dining Out in the Coronavirus Pandemic