#Essential Food Service Workers There for Us During COVID-19
As the COVID-19 epidemic started to flourish, states across the country began issuing restrictions on food service dining. In many cases, dining in was prohibited while drive-through, customer pick-up, and home delivery remained. These options proved invaluable for the millions of people who suddenly had their entire families at home to feed due to work and school closures.
Essential food service employees made it work and continued to feed the people in their communities—including other essential workers, such as healthcare workers and delivery drivers, who found themselves busier than ever. Some restaurants even stepped up their service by offering customers select retail food items and paper products that were in high demand. Of course, food service workers at hospitals, senior living facilities, and prison systems continued to do their part every day to feed their communities.
New Procedures to Keep Consumers Safe as Restaurants Reopen
The reopening of restaurants in time for summer has been a relief for both food service operators and their customers, who are beginning to resume their normal activities after months of being homebound. Those who are back to work now can look forward to stopping by a restaurant on their lunch break, while others may be excited to eat out with their families or socialize with friends over a meal.