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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah officials recently rolled out the details of the "moderate risk" phase of coronavirus recovery the state will enter Friday. The move marks the beginning of a gradual transition back to full economic activity, paving the way for larger group gatherings and some dine-in services at restaurants.
Mother's Day, May 10, may provide the first real test of whether the guidelines have been widely understood and accepted by Utahns. Traditionally, an opportunity to gather in large family groups and go out to eat, the holiday will be hindered in 2020 by dine-in limits of 10 people per party and a recommended 20-person cap on social gatherings.
The limits are outlined in the state's addendum to its Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, as well as in Salt Lake County documents and other county guidelines throughout the state.
Melva Sine, president and CEO of the Utah Restaurant Association, said she doesn't anticipate that many Utah restaurants will open for dine-in customers on May 1, but that many will be ready to go sometime next week.
She said restaurants are excited for the opportunity to host Mother's Day meals but are focused on properly implementing state health recommendations.
"We don't know exactly how Mother's Day will go," Sine said. "It will be nice to be able to welcome these people into our restaurants and help them celebrate this amazing occasion. There's no better holiday. We don't really know what to expect, but I can promise you that restaurants will be ready to provide a great meal and a great time for them to be together."
But there will be challenges, especially with potential Mother's Day crowds. Parties will be seated at least 6 feet apart, employees will wear masks, hand sanitizer must be available, and floor markers will indicate how waiting parties should be spaced. Buffets will be allowed to open, but diners won't be able to serve themselves; servers will get the food for them.
"It's not quite the ambiance" people are used to, Sine said. "We don't want to look like a doctor's officer or a medical center. We want to look fun and inviting."
Salt Lake County Health Department spokesman Nicholas Rupp said the 6-foot distancing rule could lead to fewer tables and longer wait times. "So if people do choose to go out, they should consider making a reservation to minimize those wait times and their exposure in the facility while they're waiting for the table."
But Rupp said this is "not the year to celebrate Mother's Day in person with Grandma."
"We're still recommending, primarily, that people rely on virtual interactions with their family members," Rupp said, "particularly high-risk family members" like older adults.
"If you choose to meet in person or have an in-person gathering to celebrate, the recommendation is 20 people or fewer. And for family gatherings, the state's guidance says they recommend it be a gathering of close family and friends who have all been following social distancing and hygiene practices really well for two weeks."
What actually changes tonight at midnight? You can gather with small groups of family and friends (up to 20). But do not spend time with others if you are sick, even if your symptoms are very mild.
— Gov. Gary Herbert (@GovHerbert) April 30, 2020
Weber-Morgan Health Department spokeswoman Lori Buttars said Utahns should still stay home "as much as possible," even for Mother's Day if they can. "I think some of the most memorable things we've seen and heard about these past weeks are some very creative ways to still say hi to Mom, and say hi to Grandma. We've seen drive-by parades with individual families in the cars. You know, people can still do that.
"But if they are going to go out to dinner," Buttars said, they should wear face coverings and practice distancing from other groups.
Rupp said that even though parties of 10 can dine together, he doesn't recommend that members of different households do so. "It's not intended to encourage people from multiple households to meet at a restaurant," Rupp said, merely to accommodate large families.
Buttars commended Utahns for slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. "They were awesome," she said.
But Rupp said it's still "essential" for everybody to "do their part."
"And by doing their part, I mean continuing to wear face coverings whenever out in public, continuing to social distance when out in public," he said. "If everyone doesn't do their part, it's very possible and even likely that we're going to see cases increase, and we will move back into the red phase. And nobody wants that. We all want to see progress so we can continue to keep reopening businesses and relaxing the social guidelines, and we can start returning to normal."
