OPINION

 

MAKING A MEAL 

What it’s really like dining out at social distancing restaurants – and why it WON’T work post-lockdown

Kara Godfrey

 

Travel writer Niall Harbison tried a social distancing restaurant - and warned that it won't work post-lockdown. Credit: bigseventravel.com

 

A TOURIST in Thailand has warned that social distancing cafes and restaurants DON'T work with restrictions and people won't return for a long time.

 

Niall Harbison, who runs the website Big7 Travel, experienced it for himself while living in the country.

 

Originally from Ireland, he attempted to go for dinner with his partner after the lockdown in Thailand was partially lifted.

 

He explained: "The first obligatory stop was at the hand sanitiser station, an absolute essential for all restaurants to have at the entrance.

 

"Temperature checks are also just something you do five times a day when entering premises here."

 

However, he also said that it becomes second nature when trying to enter a restaurant to follow all of the safety procedures, and aren't difficult to do.

 

Despite picking a restaurant with a sea-view and open terrace, as well as having good food and service, he said the whole scenario "wasn't the least bit enjoyable."

 

Full story: https://www.thesun.co.uk/travel/11622656/social-distancing-restaurant-wont-work-thailand/

 

-- THE SUN 2020 05-18

So his experience and opinion is less relevant than yours?

my only comment is about the clear PVC screens dividing a single table up, what is the point of that, when you go to eat and sit at a table it is usually with someone you know and have already been in close contact with, putting a screen between you on a table serves no logical purpose, in saying that - putting a larger screen between the individual tables might make more sense but only a little more 

 

The hotbed for spreading something are the areas inside were people will share like toilets or even the chairs and table you are using - the sauces and salt and pepper shakers that usually sit on tables - the truth is - restaurants are hotbeds for spreading stuff by their very nature - even worse than bars but not by much

but the hamburger looks pretty good...

I really cant be bothered and who is cleaning the PVC screens all day long?

Yes, a QR code and a PVC screen are not going to prevent much spread.

As above, there are hundreds of surfaces that can be touched and no amount of cleaning between customers is ever going to make it 100% safe.

That's why we have developed immune systems !! 

 

Space the tables out a bit, get staff and customers to wash hands and wear masks (debatable).

Much more than that and it's not going to be financially viable for the majority of small restaurants.

Not to mention the fact that the General is anti alcohol, so you cant even have a cold  beer or a glass of wine with your meal. 

 

My money is staying in my pocket until the whole experience resembles normality. I wont be scanning myself into shopping malls either.

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Full story: https://www.thesun.co.uk

No more questions.

People with underlining health conditions need to stay away from public gatherings or susceptible venues...

 

social distancing sanitizers and masks are reasonable requests....others are over the top...

9 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

Yes, a QR code and a PVC screen are not going to prevent much spread.

You're right, there's pretty much no COVID left in Thailand to spread. We know that because there are virtually zero new cases.

 

Wide spread serological surveys in the towns and cities are required now - are they doing it?

The popular restaurants in Central mall were fairly busy yesterday at 3 pm.

Bonchon had about a 30 minute wait.

X at places where not to sit.  Some had the plastic dividers and some not.

I guess people can wait for a vaccine before they go out and eat.  I plan on eating out when I feel like it.

47 minutes ago, kenk24 said:

but the hamburger looks pretty good...

? It says he is 'Originally from Ireland' not Germany.

Complete unadulterated nonsense.

i sleep every night w my GF, but when I go out to a Thai restaurant I have to be separated by a plexiglass screen or sit at another table and then I have to pay for the food bill.

absolute BS!

Thailand restaurant trade may very well be done! 
I’m sorry to say 

I have to scan in to buy something at the malls here?????

NOT gonna happen see ya!!! 

59 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

Yes, a QR code and a PVC screen are not going to prevent much spread.

As above, there are hundreds of surfaces that can be touched and no amount of cleaning between customers is ever going to make it 100% safe.

That's why we have developed immune systems !! 

 

Space the tables out a bit, get staff and customers to wash hands and wear masks (debatable).

Much more than that and it's not going to be financially viable for the majority of small restaurants.

The QR code and tracking is great idea. NO need to put that down unless you wear a tinfoil hat. During corvid times its great to know who came in contact with who if someone gets sick. It will help further spreading. It wont help the person infected in the restaurant but will help spread from there.

 

You are right that its not going to be viable financially. Perhaps they should keep the borders locked for a few more months just to be sure ????

 

But every little thing helps a bit. No measure will be full proof but at least its better then doing nothing. 

22 minutes ago, miamiman123 said:

Complete unadulterated nonsense.

i sleep every night w my GF, but when I go out to a Thai restaurant I have to be separated by a plexiglass screen or sit at another table and then I have to pay for the food bill.

absolute BS!

Thailand restaurant trade may very well be done! 
I’m sorry to say 

Yes that is a bit strange they should let people who come in together stay together. 

Oh poor baby... yeah, some restrictions seem a bit much, but perhaps too much rather than too little to be on safer side. How is a restaurant to know person with you is your girlfriend, etc. If you've been cooped up together seems being a bit apart might be a plus

It's not like they have to make sacrifices like Russians at Stalingrad.

 

20 minutes ago, robblok said:

The QR code and tracking is great idea. NO need to put that down unless you wear a tinfoil hat.

 

Its only a good idea if they start testing properly, otherwise it's not for Covid tracing but something else...

4 minutes ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

Its only a good idea if they start testing properly, otherwise it's not for Covid tracing but something else...

True.. of course it depends on the follow up but tracking of where people are when sick people turn up is a great way to make sure things don't spread too far. Your right otherwise its useless. 

4 minutes ago, robblok said:

tracking of where people are when sick people turn up

 

Sick people shouldn't be turning up if testing was being done ????

1 hour ago, kenk24 said:

but the hamburger looks pretty good...

The condemned man ate a hearty meal...

Just now, cornishcarlos said:

 

Sick people shouldn't be turning up if testing was being done ????

I guess you havent heard of carries who have the virus but dont have the symptoms. This is a good idea and is being rolled out in other places too. Even in my country they are trying to make it happen but privacy laws are a bit of a problem. 

 

Tracking the spread and by doing so curbing it is a good way to help. However it all depends on how its followed up. I can only applaud Thailand in how well it goes (at least in my area). I cant say the same for my country. In Thailand everywhere i go my temperature is taken and i need to clean my hands. I also need to wear a mas. That is not the case in my country.

1 minute ago, robblok said:

Even in my country they are trying to make it happen but privacy laws are a bit of a problem. 

 

Yes those pesky privacy laws... Don't worry, there won't be any privacy laws left by the end of this year.

But if it saves 0.01% of the population, majority being old and sick, then lets give it up...

10 minutes ago, robblok said:

True.. of course it depends on the follow up but tracking of where people are when sick people turn up is a great way to make sure things don't spread too far. Your right otherwise its useless. 

Of course they won't follow it up properly, you've been here long enough to know that.

 

This is simply the thin end of the wedge. They've seen the way the Chinese government monitor the population via their smartphones and want a piece of the action. COVID19 is a great time to introduce it to the public since they can pretend it's for the benefit of the individual, national security etc.

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Of course they won't follow it up properly, you've been here long enough to know that.

 

This is simply the thin end of the wedge. They've seen the way the Chinese government monitor the population via their smartphones and want a piece of the action. COVID19 is a great time to introduce it to the public since they can pretend it's for the benefit of the individual, national security etc.

 

 

 

I disagree but then again the Thaibashers / tinfoil hat brigade will always be like this. ITs being mulled all over the world and all of a sudden its a bad thing because its Thai.

He has to say something that people will sit up and take note.

He's trying to make money out of it  after all .

1 hour ago, JonnyF said:

I wont be scanning myself into shopping malls either.

I agree with that. Tell them your phone does not have internet and you can sign in with any name and address. If someone in there gets sick they try and quarantine you.

12 minutes ago, robblok said:

Tracking the spread and by doing so curbing it is a good way to help. However it all depends on how its followed up.

No new cases in Chonburi district since April 26, Pattaya City since April 20. 

What "spread" are they "tracking"

9 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Of course they won't follow it up properly, you've been here long enough to know that.

 

This is simply the thin end of the wedge. They've seen the way the Chinese government monitor the population via their smartphones and want a piece of the action. COVID19 is a great time to introduce it to the public since they can pretend it's for the benefit of the individual, national security etc.

 

 

 

I think you are wrong there. They have used the tracing system all along.

The good news is that have not tried the rectal temp check at this point....????

 

I find the name and passport number or mobile phone number a pain....I just write down any old number and my name remains Alfred E. Newman from MAD Magazine...????????????