An example
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How stupid is this?
[www.wbur.org]
Is it safe to eat in an outdoor plastic dome?
Oh, to dine in a giant plastic bubble ...
It's certainly not the most romantic culinary experience. But post-pandemic? It's kind of the new rave. It's popping up in New York and other cities, too, like San Francisco.
It's easy to understand the quirky appeal of bubbles, igloos, tents or plastic domes – whichever term you prefer. Who wouldn't want to say they dined in a giant hamster ball!
Yet experts are worried about the safety implications of using bubbles as an outdoor dining strategy. It may actually be counterproductive.
The reasoning behind the bubble strategy is that shrouded in plastic, diners can withstand the cold air of winter while enjoying the benefits of outdoor dining in a pandemic — namely, air flow reduces the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
But a closer look reveals some pitfalls of the strategy, says Dennis Clements, director of the Duke Global Health Institute
"First of all, being outdoors [with no bubble] is a big help," Clements explains. "When you enclose yourself in a bubble, it stops airflow."
Tiffany Harris, associate professor of epidemiology at the Columbia University Medical Center, agrees that cutting off airflow is a big concern for two reasons:
First, she explains, many people are dining with friends who aren't a part of their immediate household. While outdoors, there's wind to act as a buffer and disperse any infectious viral particles, lowering the risk of transmission. But sitting in a bubble effectively erects "artificial walls," doing the opposite — i.e. allowing viral particles to linger in the air.
That's not all. Even though restaurants say they're taking care to sanitize the bubbles after every use, Harris still has worries: "I have concerns about everything being cleaned properly and how often cleaning is happening — especially given that we don't understand everything about COVID sterilization."
And some questions remain unanswered ... like, how long must one air out a bubble to get a good clean after a party leaves?
And, Clements explains, you're not totally isolated in a dining igloo anyways. Presumably, you would be interacting often with waiters and other restaurant staff, bringing your food and drink.
"If whoever enters the bubble is diseased, their viral particles are contained in the bubble," Clements says. "That ruins the reason for eating outdoors to begin with — dispersal of aerosols by breeze."
Our sources agree: As it stands, dining outside a bubble is probably a safer bet than eating inside a bubble. After all, what's the point of sitting outside if the bubble in effect means you're ... inside?
If the concern is cold weather, Harris says eating outdoors with a nearby heat lamp is a safer alternative than bubble warmth.
[www.wbur.org]
Is it safe to eat in an outdoor plastic dome?
Oh, to dine in a giant plastic bubble ...
It's certainly not the most romantic culinary experience. But post-pandemic? It's kind of the new rave. It's popping up in New York and other cities, too, like San Francisco.
It's easy to understand the quirky appeal of bubbles, igloos, tents or plastic domes – whichever term you prefer. Who wouldn't want to say they dined in a giant hamster ball!
Yet experts are worried about the safety implications of using bubbles as an outdoor dining strategy. It may actually be counterproductive.
The reasoning behind the bubble strategy is that shrouded in plastic, diners can withstand the cold air of winter while enjoying the benefits of outdoor dining in a pandemic — namely, air flow reduces the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
But a closer look reveals some pitfalls of the strategy, says Dennis Clements, director of the Duke Global Health Institute
"First of all, being outdoors [with no bubble] is a big help," Clements explains. "When you enclose yourself in a bubble, it stops airflow."
Tiffany Harris, associate professor of epidemiology at the Columbia University Medical Center, agrees that cutting off airflow is a big concern for two reasons:
First, she explains, many people are dining with friends who aren't a part of their immediate household. While outdoors, there's wind to act as a buffer and disperse any infectious viral particles, lowering the risk of transmission. But sitting in a bubble effectively erects "artificial walls," doing the opposite — i.e. allowing viral particles to linger in the air.
That's not all. Even though restaurants say they're taking care to sanitize the bubbles after every use, Harris still has worries: "I have concerns about everything being cleaned properly and how often cleaning is happening — especially given that we don't understand everything about COVID sterilization."
And some questions remain unanswered ... like, how long must one air out a bubble to get a good clean after a party leaves?
And, Clements explains, you're not totally isolated in a dining igloo anyways. Presumably, you would be interacting often with waiters and other restaurant staff, bringing your food and drink.
"If whoever enters the bubble is diseased, their viral particles are contained in the bubble," Clements says. "That ruins the reason for eating outdoors to begin with — dispersal of aerosols by breeze."
Our sources agree: As it stands, dining outside a bubble is probably a safer bet than eating inside a bubble. After all, what's the point of sitting outside if the bubble in effect means you're ... inside?
If the concern is cold weather, Harris says eating outdoors with a nearby heat lamp is a safer alternative than bubble warmth.
