Been to a bar? Get tested!
If you’ve been in a bar since July 1 – as a customer or as an employee – public health wants you to get tested for Covid.
Bars are not required to inform the public if workers or patrons test positive, although some establishments have done so out of civic duty.
If we needed a blinking sign saying “Too early to reopen bars” I think we’ve got one.
Faiz imam 22:44 on 2020-07-11 Permalink
This is a situation where that contact tracing app makes perfect sense.
I think if you are going to step into a small crowded indoor establishment, you need to show that you have the app installed.
Joey 23:04 on 2020-07-11 Permalink
Shouldn’t this apply to restaurants too? Presumably many of the people who have been to bars have also been to restaurants. Even if the distancing measures on restos are more effective than in bars (a medium-sized if), wouldn’t it pay to be extra cautious? Especially if the province is concerned about low testing numbers generally speaking?
Kate 08:14 on 2020-07-12 Permalink
Joey, I think social behaviour is just different enough in bars vs restaurants that it isn’t quite as pressing, although obviously anyone who thinks they need a test should go get one.
walkerp 10:10 on 2020-07-12 Permalink
Walked past Buvette Chez Simon on Friday and it was packed, inside and outside. Walked by on Saturday and it was closed. One of the 5 or just being cautious?
In any case, other than a few plexiglass separators between tables, nothing seemed to be changed about the layout or max capacity than before the pandemic.
DeWolf 11:22 on 2020-07-12 Permalink
I guess we’re being plunged into yet another episode of confusion, because what’s the difference between a restaurant and a bar? The line is very blurry in many cases, especially since restaurants are now legally allowed to serve alcohol without food.
Here’s a scenario: I had a 3pm lunch with a pint of beer at a “restaurant-bar” on July 3. I was sitting on the terrasse, which had half its tables removed and staff wearing PPE. And because it was mid-afternoon there were many empty tables. Between ordering, receiving the food/drink and paying the bill, my total contact time with anyone else was less than two minutes.
Was that a bar experience? Or a restaurant experience? I’m happy to get tested but I don’t really want to stand in line at Hôtel-Dieu with a bunch of club kids who were not distancing.
DeWolf 11:34 on 2020-07-12 Permalink
@walkerp – according to their Facebook page, Chez Simone is only open from Monday to Friday, 4pm-12am. I imagine it’s to avoid the kind of weekend crowds you saw on Friday.
Kate 12:40 on 2020-07-12 Permalink
DeWolf, you may be forgetting that people go to bars to socialize and, in many cases, to flirt with strangers and possibly even engage in canoodling. That’s not so common at restaurants. I don’t think the distinction is so much about food service.
walkerp 11:00 on 2020-07-13 Permalink
Thanks DeWolf, I saw that. Good to know. They do seem like responsible owners, but man it was packed when I walked by on Friday.