Several counties in California are banning outdoor dining to help stop the spread of COVID-19. However, there are questions as to whether that is the right move.
White House coronavirus testing czar, Admiral Brett Giroir, says that science does not support shutting down outdoor dining.
“I don’t know of any data that says you need to shut down outdoor dining or outdoor bars. We really wanted to limit the indoor crowded places,” Giroir said during an appearance on Fox News on Monday.
He added, “I think we need to do what’s necessary to turn the pandemic, but not more that’s not evidence-based — that’s going to be counterproductive.”
When asked why, in the name of science, California officials are shutting down outdoor dining, Giroir said, “The science does not say that.”
Watch the video below:
LISTEN: "I don't know of any data that says you need to shutdown outdoor dining or outdoor bars, we really wanted to limit the indoor crowded places" – @HHS_ASH discusses where COVID-19 restrictions are needed. PLUS he gives an update on vaccine distribution #nine2noon pic.twitter.com/IovQSMNf5a
— America's Newsroom (@AmericaNewsroom) December 7, 2020
He went on to say that members of the coronavirus task force are all in agreement that indoor dining and bars should be limited.
“We do, in a surge place, need to limit indoor dining, indoor bars, but you don’t have to close schools, you don’t have to close universities, you don’t have to close your major industries,” he said.
He also said it is “critically important” that Americans continue to wear masks.
“The science does support limiting indoor dining and bars,” he continued. But he added there are several restaurants and bars that have taken steps to ensure there is social distancing indoors.
“It’s time to nuance. This is not March or April. This is December. We know what the science says. We know there are countermeasures that are effective. Whatever the expression is, throwing the baby out with the bathwater, I think we could be causing a lot more harm by overly restrictive recommendations that are not supported by the science.”
He added, “What I am saying is the evidence clearly does not support limitations on things like outdoor dining particularly that are spaced, outdoor bars — the evidence just isn’t there.”
Finally, he said, “Shutting down completely, particularly if you don’t have evidence, can be counterproductive.”