Eating out - will you want staff to wear face masks?

[daisydalrymple]

I’m just wondering what people’s feelings are towards bar and waiting on staff wearing masks, once pubs and restaurants reopen? Would you prefer they did or didn’t wear a protective face mask?

I work in hospitality, we haven’t reopened yet, but our bosses have told us we will not be wearing face masks, as they want our customers to enjoy the true pub experience they love us for, with great food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere, which they don’t think will be possible if staff are wearing masks.

They’re working on other recommended safety measures to be in place, staff having temp taken on arrival, hand sanitising on arrival and throughout shift, social distancing with tables etc.

Most of my colleagues are relieved they don’t have to wear a mask, whilst a few are extremely concerned that they can’t. Whilst I appreciate the company want things to get back to normal for our customers, it’s obvious things aren’t ‘normal’ as they were pre-lockdown. I’m wondering if they’re right in thinking customers won’t want a mask wearing server, or if people would prefer the reassurance of knowing people carrying drinks and food have their mouth and nose covered??

I'd be surprised if staff could get through a full shift in a hot environment without fiddling with a cloth mask and possibly forgetting to wash their hands immediately after fiddling with it. I wouldn't want to go to a pub or restaurant where they are wearing a cloth mask. A visor is fine.

I agree, a visor would be best...

However, if a waiter/waitress happenned to be infected, I’m thinking a face mask they wore when in close proximity (that they occasionally touched), would surely be far better than no mask at all.

In the first case (face mask they occasionally touched) they might touch a droplet that they transfer to a surface that you then touch and then at some point transfer to your mouth.... In the second case (no mask), it comes straight at your face from their breath! The first, a bit convoluted and not the main means of transmission.... The second, the primary means of transmission.

To use an analogy, it’s a bit like being more worried that you’re not wearing a seat belt than that your car brake lead’s been cut.

what @derby said. I think those fussing about the public 'not knowing how to perfectly use masks' is indeed like fussing about a seat belt whilst your brake's lead has been cut. This is not Novichok nerve agent, it is a droplet-spread novel virus.

BBC today: more than half a million covid-deaths around the world.

In Japan, servers are wearing masks 100% of the time. Doesn't stop people enjoying their meals. It's wonderful to eat out again! The first time we ventured out to a restaurant in late May, I was so excited at the thought of actually eating food I hadn't cooked and not having to wash up afterwards, that I wouldn't have cared if the servers had worn full-on hazmat suits and flashing red WARNING beacons on their heads.

And YY to what Derby said.

People in Japan, HK and other places aren't superhuman and probably don't wear masks as perfectly as someone handling Marburg virus in a Level 4 lab.

And yet, nevertheless, mask use in these countries appears to be good enough to "largely" contain COVID19.

Civilians wearing masks to catch a few infected droplets do not require medical-grade handling techniques, and no you don't need to change masks every 20 minutes or handle masks as though they were toxic waste when you take them off. Just bin them or wash them like you would any other item of clothing.

Where I am (Germany) things have been opened already. Waiting staff wear masks at all times. Customers can take masks off at the table but must wear them to the toilets and through the restaurants.

I appreciate not having to wear a mask at the table. Glad the waiters do- for myself and for them

To use another analogy for the view that fiddling with masks a reason not to wear them to stop infection being spread...

It would be like saying: “as some people don’t always seal the lid properly on the lead container properly, it’s better just to leave the plutonium out on the side”

I’m not in favour of blanket mask usage in all places, and where risks are very low, I don’t think it’s appropriate... for instance I don’t wear a face cover in my local shop in an area of very low Covid infections where I know I’ll be able to socially distance (apart from a fleeting pass under 2m) and I’m served behind a screen (and I appreciate some people may take issue with that), but it’s concerning when people have such a distorted view of risk.

Mask or visor would be preferable to me. Don't think I'd actually go in somewhere that wasn't and I'm not that bothered about CV weirdly!

EVERYONE should be wearing masks in public. Except obviously to eat.

And except in schools, according to government guidance.

@Fuzzbox12

Government guidance - nothing more needs saying!

When so many others are adversely impacted, I'm very aware how lucky I am, having the technology to support WFH with no issues.

In the weeks since we were sent home to WFH, I've only been indoors in public spaces a few times, using our local post office. Each time, I wore a mask to protect others, incase I could be an symptomatic spreader of the virus.

While I understand that people need to work, I can't imaging going to a restaurant any time soon. I admit that when I first noticed people wearing masks, early in March I rather scoffed because it was obvious to me that they did not protect the wearer from the virus. Now I understand that they reduce transmission and am entirely on board for indoor public spaces. It feels rude to not do my bit to protect others. And...

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/7/20-0764_article

I would prefer they were wearing a mask as a customer if they have to come within a 2 metre distance of me.

I certainly don't think staff who want to wear a mask should be prevented from doing so. Think that is well out of order.

I'm in a US state that has reopened without an increase in infections.

It's required that people wear masks indoors, but you can take them off to eat. I've eaten in several restaurants and pubs, and the staff do wear masks. I wouldn't be eating in those restaurants otherwise.

Our reopening is going well, which means we're looking more likely to be able to open schools in Sept. Our economy is picking back up. People are going back to work. My teens have been able to find summer jobs easily.

I'm baffled by the UK attitude to masks, especially given what we've learnt from watching Florida, Texas, Arizona, Nevada etc.

Where do you live, Lobster?
I don't eat out much but the idea of having to treat myself as a biohazard is creepy, doesn't encourage me or anyone else to eat out.

I'm in Maine. Accepting that we're all potentially biohazards is an important part of reopening IME. Reduces the risk for everyone.

I can accept I’m a potential biohazard and will act accordingly, but I won’t be going to a restaurant and paying for the privilege of being treated like a biohazard!

Of course - no one is forcing you to eat out.

I've really enjoyed being able to get back out and start doing the things we did before lockdown, like eating out, shopping, planning DD's return to university, getting my eyes tested. I'm happy to wear a mask to make those things possible and relatively safe. It's working out well here - we're not looking like Florida or Texas, and for that I'm grateful.

Yes that’s what I meant really, I won’t be eating out while all these additional measures are in place. Happy to wait until it is (what I consider to be) a pleasurable experience.

I'm one of the people with sharply reduced income due to the Lockdown measures. So... that's a huge extra reason to not spend extras or eat out.

I'm reading that in Maine you could get haircuts since end April.

Maine gyms opened almost 2 weeks ago -- what are the mask-wearing rules at the gym? Are indoor swim pools open & what are the mask-wearing rules there?

It looks like your schools stay closed since March. What are the future plans in Maine for school education, will kids have blended learning, PT, wear masks?

As an employee of a restaurant in France who has to wear a mask constantly it is hard work. Having it on my face for 12 hours a day in 34° heat is not fun. If it wasn’t compulsory I would not wear it.

The govt should just make it mandatory. Here in Spain it is in all enclosed spaces. You get used to it.

I'm reading that in Maine you could get haircuts since end April.

Yes, we've been reopening for over a month now, depending on which part of the state you are in. I had a haircut the other day. The woman cutting my hair, and I both wore masks throughout. I feel so much better now especially as it's been in the 30s here.

Maine gyms opened almost 2 weeks ago -- what are the mask-wearing rules at the gym? Are indoor swim pools open & what are the mask-wearing rules there?

Gyms are open but with fairly strict rules. Typically they're requiring patrons to book in advance, limiting numbers, and requiring people to keep 14' apart if they're not wearing masks. Most exercise classes are outdoors. Locker rooms and showers are not available. Pools generally are not open but there is a whole set of rules for when they do open.

It looks like your schools stay closed since March. What are the future plans in Maine for school education, will kids have blended learning, PT, wear masks?

School districts are planning for 4 scenarios - fully online learning, 20% of students in school, 50% of students in school and 100% of students in school. The Maine Dept of Education will make the final decision about which of those happens in September. Plans include all employees wearing masks, and students being encouraged to do so. There is much more in the plans - I actually have a 36-slide PPT I just looked through today. We also added $500k into our school budget for the year for Covid-related responses.

I work in hospitality and have no intentions of wearing a mask when i return to work.
I wouldn't go out to eat myself paying to be served by people in masks, i go out to relax so would rather wait until things feel safe enough not to wear masks.
I also walk miles a day in my job and i dont think masks would be comfortable on a long shift or safe once its been touched.
Obviously i cant stay 2m away from my guests because my arms are not 2m long so there will be a risk.
Of course if someone wants to wear a mask they should be allowed to.
All of my colleagues that have already returned are wearing visors and i think that's a good compromise.
Along side lots of handwashing, keeping distance where possible and temp checking.
I cant wait to get back to work and hope lots of people will be wanting to visit us.