Current Events > Restaurants pleading for indoor dining despite holiday COVID surge in PA

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https://6abc.com/amp/restaurant-owner-shares-concerns-pa-covid-restrictions-small-business-owners/9155978/

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Concerns grow by city officials about a post-holiday surge in COVID-19 cases.
Pennsylvania officials say there were nearly 3,800 new COVID-19 cases, including 1,500 in Philadelphia, reported Monday.

Many say they are pushed to the brink as they worry that next week's planned reopening will not happen.

Spoonie O'Neal, the owner of O'Neals Irish Pub on South 3rd Street in Queen Village, says outdoor dining just isn't getting it done.

"We need to open up, or we're going to be losing our businesses," O'Neal said.

O'Neal believes that many in his industry may start defying orders if the city doesn't hold up their January 15 plans to resume.

"You've seen in the other counties, they're opening up whether the governor likes it or not. That's going to get to the point here," he said. "At one point or another, something is going to have to give."

Right now, the city's stance is 'riskiest settings' will remain closed to January 15 at least.

Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley said, "By riskiest settings, I mean indoor dining and restaurants, indoor gatherings and events, theaters, casinos, college for in person education and indoor organized sports."

A second-holiday virus surge from Christmas and potentially New Years was widely discussed during the Pennsylvania Secretary of Health's COVID update on Monday. Pennsylvania, not including Philadelphia, currently has a ban on indoor dining through January 4.

"We are concerned that we could see an increase again in January if people do not stay the course," said Dr. Rachel Levine. "I can't predict that future. We're trying to prevent that surge in January in the first place."

O'Neal says he is prepared for news that won't work well for his business.

"There's no way people are coming out and sitting in these types of temperatures," he added. "We need to have inside dining, at least 50%."

State and city health officials are hoping for New Years that there are no gatherings, so the potential second surge doesn't happen and places like O'Neals can get back to indoor business.

What a fucking mess of a situation for local businesses who otherwise support restrictions yet are also pushed to the brink of desperation in breaking them to survive right now.

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If there was suitable federal support in place, these headlines would be few and far between.
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TheRealDill2000 posted...

If there was suitable federal support in place, these headlines would be few and far between.

Yeah exactly, but instead we're giving billions away to Joel Osteen and CEOs.

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TheRealDill2000 posted...

If there was suitable federal support in place, these headlines would be few and far between.

You can blame Congress Republicans for that

Walmart got ahead of this decades ago, by continuously rebuilding just outside the city limits.

Rathinor posted...

TheRealDill2000 posted...

If there was suitable federal support in place, these headlines would be few and far between.

You can blame Congress Republicans for that

I definitely do blame Congress for this.
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I live in PA and absolutely think that restaurants should be open. Just follow certain protocols and there shouldn't be an issue. Why can we have thousands of people shopping at a Walmart but can't have a small diner or restaurant open?

B18Champ posted...

Why can we have thousands of people shopping at a Walmart but can't have a small diner or restaurant open?

Maybe these restaurants should exploit the Braum's loophole: replace the tables in some corner with shelves, and start selling bread and canned goods.

TheRealDill2000 posted...

I definitely do blame Congress for this.

You're a gimmick so you definitely don't blame the Republican side

B18Champ posted...

I live in PA and absolutely think that restaurants should be open. Just follow certain protocols and there shouldn't be an issue. Why can we have thousands of people shopping at a Walmart but can't have a small diner or restaurant open?

Because unfortunately for North America Walmart sells essential products. Restaurants do not.
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TheRealDill2000 posted...

I definitely do blame Congress for this.

Do you also blame Trump for it?

This was a big ordeal in Kentucky as well in November/early December. Some restaurants flipped Gov. Beshear the bird and just kept their doors open, fines be damned; many more were indicating that they planned to defy an extension to the dine-in ordinance. (The extension ultimately didn't happen.)

@TheRealDill2000 hit the nail on the head, this kind of culture war was inevitable in the winter months without proper federal support. A lot of people have no doubt whittled through their "do it for the local businesses" money and motivation at this point, and outdoor dining isn't feasible (or at least enjoyable) in most of the country right now. Table heaters can only go so far.

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B18Champ posted...

I live in PA and absolutely think that restaurants should be open. Just follow certain protocols and there shouldn't be an issue. Why can we have thousands of people shopping at a Walmart but can't have a small diner or restaurant open?

Because everyone needs food and supplies which Walmart sells; moreover, you keep your mask on during your time in Walmart. You cant do that in a restaurant.

The restaurants dont need to open, they need cash to support the owners and employees. Govt needs to step in for people who were forced to shut down.

If only there weren't a global pandemic and if only the government provides financial assistance to regular citizens in need during said pandemic.

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B18Champ posted...

Why can we have thousands of people shopping at a Walmart but can't have a small diner or restaurant open?

Because you're not taking your mask off and placing things into your mouth at Walmart, because at Walmart you're wearing a mask non-stop, because at a restaurant you're sitting at a table where countless others have sat while surrounded by others with no mask

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B18Champ posted...

I live in PA and absolutely think that restaurants should be open. Just follow certain protocols and there shouldn't be an issue. Why can we have thousands of people shopping at a Walmart but can't have a small diner or restaurant open?

Walmart doesnt require your mask to be off like eating food in a resturant does.

Grocery stores are more important as well. Society can function without resturants. No grocery stores is nigh impossible.

Resturants and Katrina are also more likely to violate social distancing/capacity rules by the social nature and tight margins f the resturant industry

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CruelBuffalo posted...

The restaurants dont need to open, they need cash to support the owners and employees. Govt needs to step in for people who were forced to shut down.

whole statement agreed 100%. it's not safe to open these until vaccines are more widespread with 60-80% of the population vaccinated. maybe then they can reopen.
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Yeah, anyone who lives in the north half of the country knew outdoor dining only/takeout was never going to be good enough in the cold months. People arent gonna sit outside in 30 degree weather to eat

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Shits fucked, all these local restaurants are closing their doors for good around where I live. This time next year my options will be Applebee's or Chili's and that's it. I want to say I can't believe how useless the government has been in all of this, but then I remember how the last four years has been and then I'm not that surprised.

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kingdrake2 posted...

whole statement agreed 100%. it's not safe to open these until vaccines are more widespread with 60-80% of the population vaccinated. maybe then they can reopen.

Resturnsts should be carryout only at best.

All existing rent and debt for most small business and certain larger buisnesses(mostly those in industries heavily restricted/shutdown or those who can provide strong proof of signifncant losses. Actual loss of money not just loss of potential earnings or whatever) and all private individuals except the extremely wealthy shouldve and continue to be suspended with no accrual of interest or back payments until the vaccine is widely available for several months

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kingdrake2 posted...

whole statement agreed 100%. it's not safe to open these until vaccines are more widespread with 60-80% of the population vaccinated. maybe then they can reopen.

Were reopening them next week with gyms.

Anyways for restaurants, PA has dropped the ball hard at not only paying employees UC but also money for small businesses. Some are just opening anyways because theyre faced with either going put of business entirely or a possible fine.
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Honestly, if the local government cannot support the people and businesses it's forcing to close, it should really have no right to shut them down. Impose all the safety regulations you want like limited capacity and fine them out the ass if they refuse to enforce them, but full closure, if it means the livelihood of these people, is quite shitty.

nemu posted...

Honestly, if the local government cannot support the people and businesses it's forcing to close, it should really have no right to shut them down. Impose all the safety regulations you want like limited capacity and fine them out the ass if they refuse to enforce them, but full closure, if it means the livelihood of these people, is quite shitty.

I think thats why Wolf called this a pause. It was mostly just to keep people in during the holidays. Im not really sure how that helped though since people are still traveling/having get-togethers
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I hate ignorant ass people. Wait for the god damn vaccine like everyone else.

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ncsonic posted...

I hate ignorant ass people. Wait for the god damn vaccine like everyone else.

Lmao did you even read OP?
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B18Champ posted...

I live in PA and absolutely think that restaurants should be open. Just follow certain protocols and there shouldn't be an issue. Why can we have thousands of people shopping at a Walmart but can't have a small diner or restaurant open?

One if a Supermarket, the other is not. And personlly I think Walmart should go to all pick up too.

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What's really stupid is that the restaurants are allowed to put up large tents outside with walls on all four sides and heaters inside and seat people in there. It's like the photo that keeps getting shared around "so we're not allowed to inside but if inside is outside then it's ok". Either tell restaurants they're not allowed to seat anyone whatsoever, or let them seat people inside.

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The Nintendo Master posted...

What's really stupid is that the restaurants are allowed to put up large tents outside with walls on all four sides and heaters inside and seat people in there.

Spirit of the law vs. letter of the law.

Either tell restaurants they're not allowed to seat anyone whatsoever, or let them seat people inside.

Soon:

hockeybub89 posted...

If only there weren't a global pandemic and if only the government provides financial assistance to regular citizens in need during said pandemic.

Yeah if only we lived in one of those countries. It's weird lol

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If you haven't worked out a delivery infrastructure by now, that's entirely on you.

Here in NYC indoor dining is responsible for less than a 2% increase in covid-19 cases yet the asshat Cuomo, in an attempt to look like he's doing something, shut down all indoor dining.

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Questionmarktarius posted...

If you haven't worked out a delivery infrastructure by now, that's entirely on you.

Its funny anyone thinks people are ordering sit down food as delivery. If youre at home you might as well save $40 and just cook.
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Vermander posted...

Its funny anyone thinks people are ordering sit down food as delivery. If youre at home you might as well save $40 and just cook.

When the history book is written about all this, some kid is going to raise his hand from the back of the class and say, "Ms. McGillicutty, why wouldn't they stay the fuck home?"

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Vermander posted...

If youre at home you might as well save $40 and just cook.

If you were too lazy or incompetent to cook before the apocalypse, you probably still are.

Questionmarktarius posted...

If you were too lazy or incompetent to cook before the apocalypse, you probably still are.

The point is these businesses are losing massive amounts of profit, takeout or not, and the state is not helping them after mandating them to shutdown.
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