Eating at a restaurant vs. shopping at a store: What is riskier?

The fear of contagion due to COVID-19 coerced most of us to shut down our public lives. We were confined within the four walls of our home due to the rising number of positive cases and lockdown imposed by the government. Now slowly and steadily when life is going back to normal and public places like restaurants, malls and parks are opening, most people are wondering if it is even safe to visit these places.

A year ago, we never gave much thought before making dinner plans with friends and family, but pandemic changed everything. People are scared to such an extent that even before going for grocery shopping they think twice. But to be true, life in the pandemic has been hard and we all want a little breather. When you see people around you travelling and going shopping, it is obvious to wonder if you too can do that without risking your life. Late night dinner at the restaurant or shopping with friends, just like old times would certainly make a huge difference. Before making a plan you would surely want to evaluate the risk factors. Dinning vs shopping- which is safer to do at this time?

If both the activities are done carefully, taking the right precautions, they both are relatively safe. There are some guideline issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that need to be followed - Maintaining six feet distance, wearing a mask, following proper hand hygiene and coughing etiquette. If you are able to follow all these things at the place you are visiting then the risk of coming in contact with the virus can be considered low. How safe it is to visit a particular place actually depends on your timing, surrounding and the crowd.

When choosing a restaurant, try to look for the one with the outdoor seating arrangement. In an open space, the risk of infection is less. Make sure the tables are not jammed and the distance between them is at least six-feet. Do not forget the hygiene rating - check they are following the safety guidelines, sanitising their restaurant and if the people around you are wearing a facemask. Eating in an indoor restaurant is riskier. It is best to avoid it.

Going for shopping at peak hours and on weekends is considered the riskiest. The closed space, poor ventilation and difficulty to maintain a respectful distance from the other person can increase the chances of getting infected. Visiting a shopping store on weekdays is a much better option. The crowd will be less and there will be enough space to move freely. Make sure you are wearing a face mask and carrying a bottle of sanitizer. Try to touch limited things to stay safe.