There is an association of close contact with COVID-19 patients, dining at restaurants and pubs, with testing positive for the novel coronavirus infection, reveals a study of outpatients from 11 US health care facilities.

The research was published in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report journal. It mentions that adults tested positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 were almost twice as likely to have reported dining at a restaurant as compared to those with negative test results.

For the purpose of assessing community and close contact exposures associated with COVID-19, scientists, including those from the US National Institutes of Health, assessed the exposures reported by 154 adult case-patients, diagnosed using RT-PCR tests. This was compared with data from 160 control-participants showing symptoms but had negative test results.

The study mentioned that the data collected by scientists from the participants included demographic characteristics, symptoms, information on underlying and self-rated physical and mental health.

They also collected data about close contact from the participants, within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more, with a person known to be suffering from Covid-19, behavior related to mask-wearing, workplace exposures, and community activities in the past 14 days prior to experiencing symptoms.

The study noted that case-patients were more likely to have dined at a restaurant (any area that was designated by the restaurant, including outdoor seating, indoor and patio) in the 2 weeks before onset of the illness than were control-patients.

In cases where the scientists restricted their analysis to those without known interaction with a COVID-19 patient, the respondents were more likely to have reported dining at a restaurant, or visiting a bar or coffee shop than the control-patients.

Activities and exposures where the use of masks and social distancing are tough to maintain, which includes going to places offering on-site eating or drinking, could be an important risk factor to acquire COVID-19, as mentioned by the scientist in the research.

They said these kinds of exposures in restaurants could be related to air circulation. The intensity of airflow, direction and ventilation might affect virus transmission, even while maintaining social distancing norms and using a mask, as per the current guidance.

Mask can’t be effectively worn while eating and drinking, whereas numerous indoor activities like shopping don’t preclude mask use, said the scientists.

Since communities are reopening, researchers believe that efforts to reduce possible exposures at locations offering on-site eating and drinking options need to be considered for protecting employees, customers and communities.

Scientists concluded that implementing safe practices for the reduction of exposures to SARS-CoV-2 while on-site eating and drinking needs to be considered for the protection of customers, employees, and communities, and slow the spread of COVID-19.