by:Adrienne Sabatier

Due to the disease Covid-19 a lot of restaurants have either been closed or forced to minimize their capacity size worldwide. For the places that are open, they are now requiring  checking every customer’s temperature, wearing masks, and making sure there is enough ventilation throughout the restaurant to lower the chances of Covid. 

Unfortunately, many owners have been affected by this because they are losing money and are struggling. Recently, a very popular restaurant called “Cuban Petes” in Montclair, New Jersey, has been forced to shut down after violating the requirements. The owner, Dominick Restaino, did not place tables 6 feet apart and opened at full capacity and stated, 

 “I’m not doing 25%, and I’m not doing 6 feet apart,” he said at the time. “It’s a free country.”   

Cops repeatedly warned him that if he continued to violate the requirements he would serve jail time, but he did not care and continued his business. 

Now is that time to answer the question if restaurants should be allowed to open at full capacity. I personally feel that restaurants should be able to open fully. Employees wear their masks throughout the entire day and are not in full contact with customers. In my opinion, eating at a restaurant is completely voluntary and if you feel like you are unsafe, take food to go and stay home. Even more, employees rely on their job to financially support themselves and are still being required to get tested regularly, get their temperature checked before their shift, and wear masks.   

The app Yelp released that about 60% of restaurants that closed due to Covid-19 are now shut down for good. There were 26,160 total restaurant closures on Yelp as of July, 10 and 15,770 of those have made the decision permanent, according to Yelp.

I personally work at a restaurant and know all the precautions that are required to stay safe. The moment I start my shift I walk in with a mask on and get my temperature checked and sanitize my hands. I sanitize every menu, door handle, and table. When customers come in I make sure to social distance myself and help them. I also understand how it is to be in the business and know a lot of people who really need their job to support themselves and their family. Ultimately I feel restaurants should be opened at full capacity but still take serious precaution and stay safe.