DC restaurants reopen patio dining amid virus

Описание: (29 May 2020) The US capital has entered Phase One of reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, allowing restaurants to welcome back customers for their first dine-in meals in three months.
Deon Le works at a nail salon in Washington DC and returned to one of his lunch spots on Friday.
Le's workplace is still closed, but he thinks entering Phase One provides an opportunity to celebrate and support other small businesses.
"It feels so great, the reopening. (It) means that the US can bring back the business. That is what I like," Le said. "I'm dining out on the patio, having a drink, have my food, because like I'm just sick of what I'm cooking right now. I need just something new."
Other diners like DC resident Richard Stevens are apprehensive and are not in a rush to dine-in at restaurants because of the risks involved.
"I think you know take it slow and easy, little baby steps, see how things work out. And then slowly, I think I would gain the confidence, that if I feel like it I would go out," Stevens said.
All Washington DC restaurant had to follow the six feet social distancing requirement in their outdoor seating areas, and Mayor Muriel Bowser also recommended businesses use of disposable utensils, one-time use menus, and to keep a log of the name and phone number of every customer just in case someone tests positive with the virus.
Mehdi Zorgani, Director of Operations at Sette Osteria, said it feels like he is opening a new restaurant and knows they have to make a good first impression.
"All of the challenges are the perfect opportunity to really shine and really to earn their trust back," Zorgani said. "I was very pleased, and I'm overwhelmed by the number of phone calls we have received. We are sold out for Friday and Saturday, and Sunday brunch."
DC restaurant owners agree that reopening patios is a great step in the right direction, and some are also hoping to move on to the next phase sooner rather than later so they can return to full dine-in capacity.
"So about 30 people and this patio is going to be full, and of course that is not sustainable in profitability for a long time," said Ype Von Hengst, Executive Chef and co-founder of Silver. "You can't make a profit on 30, 40, 50 percent full of guests. There is no restaurant in the world that can handle that."
On Friday Mayor Bowser announced that restaurants in the District of Columbia can submit an online application to apply for an expansion of their outdoor seating areas onto their sidewalks and even streets.
For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

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