Good afternoon everyone,
It came as no surprise that reducing indoor restaurant capacity from 60 to 30 percent under Gov. John Carney’s emergency order drew sharp criticism.
The Carney administration had warned for weeks that restrictions were coming with a spike in coronavirus cases. The curbs go into effect on Monday.
Options included the 10 p.m. closing time we will see in Maryland and New Jersey and even a return to carry out only. Neither happened as the administration continues to walk a tight rope over economic and health considerations.
Still, the 30 percent restriction means losses will grow, especially with the cancellation of most employee holiday parties and growing reluctance by diners as the number of daily cases spike and outdoor dining winds down.
The Delaware Restaurant Association and its President Carrie Leishman have a valid point in complaining that other businesses did not see capacity reductions.
It would have been a good idea to have ordered shared sacrifice similar to Maryland’s reduction of occupancy rates in retail stores and restaurants from 75 to 50 percent.
Delaware’s occupancy figure remains at 60 percent, and self-enforcement is lax compared to the days of lower occupancy rates earlier in the pandemic.
A strong argument could be made for adopting Maryland’s entire blueprint. Both states seem to have similar infection rates and share a reluctance to opt for the tougher stances of New Jersey and the City of Philadelphia.
Still, Delaware contact tracing efforts indicate that restaurants were tied to the spread; the Restaurant Association disputes a claim.
The Division of Public Health has traced instances of spread to larger groups of diners. As we all know, these get-togethers can run an hour and a half or more. Without masks, a spreading event is possible.
One question mark is whether some patrons were careless all along, with the restaurant being the final transmission point. State health officials admit restaurants are not to blame, given the inability to use masks while dining.
Whatever the case, it marks another blow for an industry that is already on its way to seeing a quarter or more of its establishments disappear.
Here’s to a nice evening, and after a chilly spell, warmer temperatures are on the way. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
