Restaurants still safe despite public health advisory, says Restaurants Canada

Recently, the Nova Scotia Health Authority advised of two restaurants as potential exposure sites for COVID-19.

Patrons and staff of both the Bitter End Martini Bar on Argyle Street from 9 p.m. until close on Nov. 2 and Montana’s BBQ and Bar on Chain Lake Drive on Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. until close have been advised to get tested for the virus.

But according to Restaurants Canada, the risk of exposure remains low when you’re dining out.

Restaurants in Nova Scotia have been following rigid protocols, like screening, using barriers, implementing PPE, disinfecting and operating at a reduced capacity, says Luc Erjavec, Atlantic VP for Restaurants Canada.

He tells NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon MacLeod Show that unlike many other places where potential exposures are reported, restaurants take names for contract tracing which means their system is working.

“We as an industry continue to be diligent, working closely with health officials to do everything in our power to mitigate the risk to our customers and our staff,” he says.

Erjavec is encouraging people to keep visiting restaurants, and if they do have concerns, to opt for take-out or delivery as another way to support the industry.

He says the way people react to this may impact some restaurants' ability to survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Things like this hurt,” he says. “We are doing all we can to mitigate the risks. When you look at the data, your risk of getting exposed at a restaurant is so small.”