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How do you dine safely with friends with COVID-19 around? How do you dine safely with friends with COVID-19 around? Taylor Clysdale There's no way to completely eliminate the risk of COVID-19 when dining indoors, as bars and restaurants re-open their dining rooms in Peterborough. So Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, medical officer of health for Peterborough Public Health, is advising people to continue to be cautious as fears spread that young people are passing the virus between them in Ontario. On Tuesday, July 21, Premier Doug Ford warned people to stop partying as cases briefly spiked in Ontario as well as other provinces. This comes after the premier allowed for the re-opening of restaurants to dine-in services as a part of the third phase of COVID-19 recovery. Dr. Salvaterra says while it's safer in Peterborough as the city and county has gone more than a month without a new case, there's no way to completely eliminate the danger. "Indoor activity poses a higher risk than the same activity outdoors," she says. For those dining in, tables must be two metres apart, or have a barrier between them. As well, on Aug. 1, you must wear face coverings in indoor public settings like restaurants, due to an order from the health unit. Patrons must also remain seated at their tables, reminds Dr. Salvaterra. There's no bar service, no mingling and no dancing. But when people drink, they can become intoxicated and perform unsafe behaviours, she adds. Her most important advice is to maintain your social bubble of only 10 people, and those people must not be bubbled with anyone else. It's still not the time to call up a friend and go out for dinner, unless you're bubbled with that person. "That is still not a good idea," she says. YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN... But that doesn't mean you can't share a meal with people you haven't seen in a while. Dr. Salvaterra says she had a social gathering with people she isn't bubbled with, but it was outdoors and people were practicing physical distancing. As well, pre-packaged food was served and people were not sharing plates or utensils. If you want to do a similar social gathering, Dr. Salvaterra says to consider getting a certified food handler to prepare the meal, and potentially bring plates and utensils How do you dine safely with friends with COVID-19 around? https://www.mykawartha.com/news-story/10112763-how-do-you-dine-sa... 1 of 2 7/23/2020, 3:59 PM