A restaurant announcing its re-opening advised patrons that, far from serving delicious food or creating a memorable dinner, its “number one priority” is “Health & Safety for EVERYONE…” Forget killer fettuccine alfredo, the best chow fon this side of Canton, or bread pudding with Southern whiskey sauce: what I want in a restaurant is “Health & Safety”; how ‘bout you?
At any rate, the eatery continued, “We will require masks upon entry and when not seated at your tables. Our staff will follow the guidelines set by the CDC and from the link below–Massachusetts Guidelines to Reopening Restaurants Indoor.”
In response to this fatuous provocation, Kathleen tactfully responded,
Hello!
Yours is one of my favorite local restaurants. I’m delighted to see that our emperor has given the OK for you to operate once again.
Unfortunately, I will have to abstain from returning as long as you require a face covering—for several reasons, including the fact that they’re ineffective. From the OSHA website, we have the following under headings discussing both cloth and surgical masks: “Will not protect the wearer against airborne transmissible infectious agents due to loose fit and lack of seal or inadequate filtration”
From the New England Journal of Medicine, we have the following:
“We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic.”
Additionally, the health risk for healthy people covering their noses and mouths? I could list the dangers—and there are many. Instead I’ll say simply that I’m sure you’ve experienced the difficulty breathing when wearing one of these. For me, to see the servers suffering through a shift as they try to breathe through a face covering? It would greatly diminish the enjoyment of my meal and their service.
I know that the restaurant business has suffered enormously as a result of the ordered shut down. I’m glad to see that you’ve made it to this point—where you can actually re-open when so many Boston restaurants have had to close permanently. So, congratulations! I’ll look forward to seeing you again when the mask madness ends!
All the best,
Kathleen
I’m sure Kathleen won’t mind if you adapt or even copy this letter and send it to those entrepreneurs in your area who are as craven and silly as this one.
5:39 pm on June 23, 2020
