With less than a year of data available to us on the subject of COVID-19, it was well expected that the guidance we receive regarding the virus would be wavering wildly.

This battle is a feisty one, and only now that there are some promising vaccine candidates have our hopes been raised.  To this day we’ve been battling this pandemic with only a few, weaker weapons:  Social distancing, face masks, and contact tracing.

Social distancing, while the most effective of these tactics, has taken an enormous toll on our economy, as businesses who rely on crowds and gatherings suffer horrifically.  The restaurant industry has been hit tremendously hard in recent months, with many eateries around the nation now forced to rely on carryout orders or outdoor-only dining to stay afloat.

In California, however, Governor Gavin Newsom attempted to put an end to outdoor dining to curb the spread of the illness – a move that was dismissed wholeheartedly by a local judge.

Now, the Department of Health and Human services has released information that seeks to establish outdoor dining as a safe space.

During an interview on Fox News Radio, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Adm. Brett Giroir laid out the facts:

Giroir said, “The data are clear that outdoor dining, with appropriate separation, is not a risk factor, same thing with outdoor bars with appropriate separation. I even went back to the CDC and said, ‘Have there been any outbreaks traced to outdoor dining with appropriate separation?’ They said, no, they don’t have it. So, this is one of those overreactions. … If you take away everyone’s privileges, they’re not going to believe anything you say, particularly if you’re not science-based, and they’re going to react to that. If you can’t do anything, you’re going to have a house party, and it’s going to be even worse.”

This will come as a pleasant reprieve for Americans living south of the snow line, particularly as the Christmas season continues roll on.

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