On Friday restaurants and bars that serve food will be able to open at 50 percent capacity as the state moves into Phase Two. President of the Louisiana Restaurant Association Stan Harris believes the transition to increase capacity with effective social distancing will help put restaurants on the road to recovery.
“I think our industry is ready to go. They’re an industry that focuses on sanitation and hygiene and food safety and keeping their guests and staff and their well-being in the front of mind is important all of us,” says Harris.
Under Phase One eating establishments were restricted to 25-percent capacity, Friday they can they double that. Harris says Phase One for all practical terms has been a trial run for Phase Two, but as for true economic recovery, that won’t be reached until Phase Three.
“I think this is just getting them on the path for operating a bit more efficiently, getting themselves on the path where they’re more able to accommodate more guests as demand builds,” says Harris.
Tables can be arranged 6 feet apart in Phase Two as opposed to the current eight to ten feet apart. Restaurant workers are still required to wear masks and Harris says even though it makes it difficult to socialize, workers have adapted to the new change.
“I believe that they’ve socialized very well, what everyone is needing to do so we can get beyond this,” says Harris.
Reported by Brooke Thorington