Indiana’s restaurants are getting ready to reopen for dine-in service, but some challenges lie ahead.
“We have really had an unbelievable painful experience throughout this time,” Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association President and CEO Patrick Tamm said during state officials’ COVID-19 press conference Tuesday. “We were the second largest employer in the State of Indiana. We’ve laid off over 200,000 people since this time period.”
Starting Monday, restaurants in most counties will be allowed to operate at 50-percent capacity. Tamm noted that some restaurants will be challenged by the capacity limit, depending on their location, type of food, and price point. It’s also unknown how consumers will react.
Tamm said that personal protective equipment is very hard to find and felt that many of his association’s members will be turning to the state’s Small Business PPE Marketplace. He added that restaurants are already used to following strict health regulations, but now they’re stepping up their cleaning procedures and requiring employees to wear masks.
At the same time, he said his association is asking potential diners to do their part to keep others’ safe. “If they’re not feeling well, do not come in,” Tamm said. “If you are exposed to someone that is believed to have COVID-like symptoms, do not come into a restaurant. If you have underlying health conditions, do not come into our restaurants. Let us serve you through delivery, through carryout. Let us continue to serve you, but we cannot allow you to come into our restaurants during this time.”
Guidelines for restaurants planning to reopen to diners can be found at BackOnTrack.in.gov.
