Indoor dining restriction rooted in research, doctors say

Dr. Patrick Luedtke says a recent study conducted by the CDC highlighted restaurants as a common thread between Covid patients.

At 4" we start tonight in springfield... and the continuing controversy over a restaurant that refuses to comply with state covid restrictions.

It's raising questions about the rights of businesses and why indoor dining is shut down in the first place.

Thank you for joining us.

I'm chynna greene.

We have team coverage tonight to answer these questions, starting with kezi 9 news reporter emma jerome live in springfield.

Emma, you spoke with doctors today about this issue.

What did they say?

I'm here at along came trudy -- as you can see the crowd is xx people have been here all week in their words "protecting the property" from unwanted guests and this morning they were not pleased with our crews for being here this is video from this morning.

As you can see... some of the customers here were visibly upset when we showed up to report what was happening.

On social media... defenders of the restaurant claimed eating indoors is perfectly safe --- no different than going to target or the grocery store.

But what's the truth?

Today i spoke with dr patrick luedtke with lane county public health who broke it all down.

He cited a study by the cdc which surveyed sick covid patients and recorded what their behaviors were before they got infected.

"there was not a difference if they had just been at home, there was not a difference if they had just been shopping you know at walmart or target or wherever else.

There was a pretty big statistical difference if they had recently been to a restaurant and that held through for hundreds of cases" we have a link to that study on our website.

Luedtke says there is no comparing passing by someone for moment or maybe a minute - to sitting down in a restaurant for 45 minutes to enjoy a meal he and i also chatted about outdoor dining and with all these tents and outdoor sheds popping up -- when do those become just as bad as indoor dining?

And are they regulated?

Find out more on kezi 9news at 5 in springfield