The human race is currently going through it. Social distancing parameters have been in place in the U.S. for almost two months and there is still no official word on when the country will be re-opening. Different sources have different theories, some say by mid-May or early June but alarmists worry things won’t really be back to “normal” until late summer.

In the meantime, many people worry about the effects of the lockdown as much as the effects of the virus. The stock market is already in considerable decline and the economy has all but crumbled at our feet. Though there are industries still running, mostly, normally and others that won’t have much trouble getting back on their feet, certain social industries are in a pinch.

Restaurants are in a particularly precarious position, being that their entire industry relies on social gatherings with many opportunities to engage with potentially sick people. Even if social distancing parameters are lightened and allow certain industries to resume, restaurants will not be one of them. Many restaurants face closing their doors permanently and even if they don’t, eating at a restaurant may never be the same. Implementing social distancing features will change the way restaurants function for a long time to come.

The thought of the entire restaurant industry being demolished is depressing and scary for most of us. Many people cherish the memories they have eating out with their friends and loved ones. Not to mention the number of people who will continue to be unemployed if they close. There are over 1 million restaurants in the U.S. alone — that’s a lot of people potentially without jobs in the near future.

What Can We Do?

In 2019, Americans were eating out more than ever with a general 4% increase from the previous year. So as a country, we obviously love restaurants. Many of us have special connections to certain spots. Perhaps you have a regular haunt you love, or there’s a special restaurant that you feel nostalgic for. Many of us know someone who works at a bar or restaurant. So what can the average person do to help restaurants and their employees during this trying time?

Many restaurants are staying open during the crisis and are still delivering food to customers, either through side-gig apps like GrubHub and Seamless or just through phone or online orders. If there are certain restaurants you want to help keep open, ordering from them and giving them business is the best way. If you can, order from the restaurants directly rather than through an app, as delivery services often take chunks of the profits from restaurants. Luckily, restaurants and delivery services alike are accommodating those who are very worried about potential contamination by doing contactless delivery. In this form of delivery, they leave the food outside of the front door instead of handing it to the customer.

Though there may be a tiny amount of potential contamination risk, restaurants are taking many proper precautions to ensure that doesn’t happen. Experts suggest that once you have received your take out, you handle it with gloves and take the food out of their containers and use your own dish and silverware. This will ensure even less exposure. The CDC reports that the virus is not contagious through the food itself.

Despite this, some restaurants still have trouble delivering and don’t have the capabilities. In cases like this, direct donations to the place of business are always welcome.

Though things seem scary now, particularly for restaurants, there is a coronavirus-free future on the horizon. In the meantime, we must stay calm, safe, and try to help one another as much as we can.