Skip to main content

Restaurant Workers Deserve Easier Access to COVID-19 Testing

Staring in January, Philly restaurant workers will have access to free weekly tests at a shuttered local bar. Cities everywhere should adopt the same playbook.

By Regan Stephens 

December 22, 2020

 Nicole Marquis got an email from her son’s preschool this fall. One of the students had tested positive for COVID-19, so they were offering free tests for the students and teachers through a wellness company called Ivee. Marquis, a Philadelphia-based restaurateur and founder of Save Philly Restaurants, wondered how she could use the same resource for the city’s restaurant workers.

Marquis started the coalition in the spring, right after the pandemic forced restaurants to shutter. Months later, as colder weather halted outdoor dining and new cases of the virus began soaring, the restaurateur saw there was still no help on the way for restaurants.

fort lauderdale personal chef

“We realized the city still doesn't have a plan,” she said. “The only weapon that they're using against the virus is shutting down. That's it. So we just started saying where are the tests, which can actually keep us operating in a really smart and safe way?”

Thanks to Save Philly Restaurants, starting on January 7, all restaurant workers will have access to free weekly COVID-19 tests, provided through Ivee and funded through the CARES Act. The testing site will be set up at local restaurant owner Fergus Carey’s currently shuttered bar, and unlike most other operations in the city, this one requires no insurance card, social security number, or license to book it.

More than 11 months into the pandemic, there’s still no cohesive plan to protect workers in the hospitality sector. No plan to keep restaurants open, no plan to keep workers safe, and no plan to save the restaurant industry—an industry that employs over 15 million people nationwide, and has lost $130 billion in sales compared to last year. (The recently passed Coronavirus Relief Bill left out a specific Restaurants Act that would have earmarked money for mom-and-pop establishments. Many experts fear the current bill won’t do enough to save the industry.)

And while the vaccines are currently being deployed to front line healthcare workers, and soon, to nursing homes and seniors, according to the CDC vaccine priority list, it may take months before they make it to restaurant workers. And we have a winter to get through first.

Since the start of the pandemic, restaurant owners have been scrambling to innovate, some employing technology like temperature screeners and apps to monitor employees’ health. But, as the New York Times noted back in May, the plan wasn’t foolproof.

“Public health experts and bioethicists said it was important for employers to find ways to protect their workers during the pandemic,” the reporter noted. “But they cautioned there was little evidence to suggest that the new tools could accurately determine employees’ health status or contain virus outbreaks.”

As we’ve seen play out in real time over the summer and fall—they couldn’t, and they didn’t. What’s more, these methods can actually help spread the disease, as an all-clear from a sleek robot thermometer might give workers a false sense of security, even if they’re actually infected.

What can keep people safer, epidemiologists have discovered, is frequent testing. A study released in November looking at Duke University’s testing strategy showed that comprehensive testing of asymptomatic individuals can help prevent COVID-19 transmission. With widespread testing and rapid results, asymptomatic carriers can be identified and stopped from inadvertently infecting others. In other words, testing can help decrease community spread.

But even if we’re not weekly testing an entire cohort of people—say, on-campus university students or the entire population of restaurant workers in Philadelphia—easy access to a test if you’re symptomatic, or have been exposed to someone who’s positive, is crucial to help stop the spread, keep restaurants open (even just for take out), and support an industry that continues to be decimated.

“Free testing will allow restaurants to keep employees and customers safe, quickly control an outbreak and get back to business, if anyone in their team does test positive,” said Marquis. “Plus, it will save thousands of dollars on testing when a COVID-19 scare occurs.” Thousands of dollars that a restaurant doesn’t have after taking hits all year long.

Nick Elmi, the chef and owner of Laurel and ITV in Philadelphia, is relieved by the new free testing initiative, noting that because of the current state of the industry, most restaurants can’t afford to insure all their workers. Plus, there’s a positive ripple effect. “It's not only helping the restaurant industry, it's helping everybody else in this city,” he said.

A lack of insurance, and in some cases, a language barrier, might hinder testing for workers who need or want it. But with the new initiative, any restaurant worker who wants to be tested can go through a portal, with instructions in both English and Spanish, and no insurance or ID are required. “We know some of our employees might be intimidated by going through a long, lengthy process and it can be the reason they don't get tested, so we're making this as easy as possible,” said Marquis.

Back in May, a video of Pennsylvania State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta went viral. Kenyatta was on the house floor, passionately asking how, as restaurants were slated to reopen, we plan to keep restaurant workers safe in the face of an airborne virus.

“What we are demanding right now—and what folks are demanding—is that they get to be served, that they get to go to a restaurant and sit down and be served by a service worker who they refuse to pay a $15 minimum wage,” argued the 29-year-old legislator. He went on to lament how these restaurants, so many of them small businesses, might not be able to afford the PPE to keep their workers safe. Kenyatta, who put himself through college working at a Philadelphia burger joint, told me he wants to make sure that service workers not only get vaccinated, but are treated like the essential workers that they are.

“I understand the value that restaurants play in our community, and also know how hard servers work,” he said. “What's been frustrating for me, having worked in this field, is how often the needs of service workers are completely ignored.” Which is why, he says, the free testing initiative is a great one.

Marquis, for her part, was frustrated the free testing took so long, and she's glad she found a way to make it happen for the community. “The one thing that actually gets us back open, and keeps employees employed is to have the security of knowing,” she said.

Food&Wine

personal chefs and event catering
Hollywood / Fort Lauderdale

info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232)

Popular posts from this blog

9 Wonderful Benefits Of Pistachios

The health benefits of pistachios include a  healthy heart , weight management, protection against  diabetes  and hypertension, and improved  digestion . The  vitamins ,  minerals , fats, and protein found in pistachio are all good for health. What Are Pistachios? Pistachios are one of the oldest edible  nuts  and are commonly used all over the world. They are native to Asia, particularly Iran and Iraq. Archaeological evidence  dates  the association of pistachios and man as early as 6,000 BC. They were cultivated in Iran, Iraq, and Syria and were introduced to the Romans only in 100 AD. Today, apart from Iran, Iraq, and Syria, pistachios are being produced in many countries such as the United States, Australia, Turkey, and China, among others. Pistachio nuts belong to the  Anacardiaceae  family from the genus  Pistacia . A pistachio tree takes about 10 to 12 years to produce the first crop. They are d...

Kids Cooking Class - Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami

YaDa Chef's cooking school JUST for kids! Teaching children of all ages that cooking can be creative, full of discovery, and a lot of fun!  YaDa Chef provides hands-on cooking classes allowing kid's imaginations to run wild and free while discovering new science, math, reading, health and social skills. YaDa Chef offers a unique culinary experience offering cooking classes to children in an environment that encourages discover and creativity.  Each class is a new experience.  Themes chosen, either our one of YaDa Chef's chefs, by the child or parent assist in sharpening skills and taking the mystery out of the kitchen.  Removing the fear of the unknown while incorporating subject matter which ties into each theme. Our highly qualified chefs, in coordination of nutritional experts carry out a mission to provide an interactive learning experience giving children the opportunity to develop a life-long love of the culinary arts. Each class is designed to fa...

Do you Remember Herman? Sourdough Starter and Recipe

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Amish friendship bread, as well as an interchangeable starter referred to as Herman (the name varies), became a popular exchange among friends who shared the starter as well as recipes. Herman Starter Preparation time: 10 minutes Standing time: 5 days Yield: 4 cups 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup warm water 2 packages (2 1/4 teaspoons each) active dry yeast 2 cups each: milk, flour 1. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of the sugar over the warm water. Sprinkle yeast over mixture; set aside until doubled in volume, about 10 minutes. 2. Combine milk, flour, remaining sugar and yeast mixture in a plastic or glass container. (Do not use metal.) Stir with a wooden spoon; cover loosely. Set aside at room temperature, at least 8 hours. 3. Stir mixture once a day for three days. On the fourth day, measure out 1 cup of Herman for baking; measure 1 additional cup to give to a friend as a gift. To replenish starter: Add 1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1...

Baked Apple Streusel Pancake Bars Recipe

Have you ever mixed up a batch of pancake batter, (because they sounded so amazing 15 minutes earlier when you were in bed), o nly to find yourself in front of the stove, spatula in hand, thinking "I really don't have the patience for this?" Yields: 20 Bars Adapted from: Martha Stewart's Buttermilk Pancakes 2 cups all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or slightly less table salt 3 tablespoons sugar 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 3/4 cups buttermilk (whole milk can be substituted without any problems) 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 1 small apple, diced into 1/2" pieces 2 cups Granola (we used an apple cinnamon granola from Bear Naked) For Topping: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 cup brown sugar, firmly packed 3 tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg Grease and Parchment your choice of baking dish. We used 2 8"x8" pans (for the straight s...

Colors, Flavors, Sizes & Seasons of Onions

Onions vary in color, size, the time of year harvested, and flavor. These differences make onions very versatile. The  Color of Onions Bulb onions can be yellow, red, or white. Approximately 87 percent of the crop is devoted to yellow onion production, with about eight percent red onions, and five percent white onions. Yellow Onions Yellow Onions are full-flavored and are a reliable standby for cooking almost anything. Yellow onions turn a rich, dark brown when cooked and give French Onion Soup its tangy sweet flavor. Red Onions Red Onions, with their wonderful color, are a good choice for lots of fresh uses or for grilling, charbroiling, and roasting. White Onions White Onions are often used in prepared salads, white sauces, and is the traditional onion for classic Mexican cuisine. They have a golden color and sweet flavor when sautéed. personal chefs and event catering Miami + Miami Beach + Fort Lauderdale + Palm Beach www.yadachef.com info@yadachef.c...

Gluten Free Split Pea Soup Recipe

She loves to make soup--especially cream of yesterday. -  Milton Berle Split Pea Soup Recipe  Ingredients 1 medium yellow onion/1 cup/150g, chopped  2 cloves garlic, minced 2 tablespoons/30ml good olive oil 1/2 teaspoon/2ml dried oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons/7ml/9g Sea Salt 1 teaspoon/5ml/3g freshly ground black pepper 2 cups dic/128g diced carrots (3 to 4 carrots) 1 cup/122g diced red boiling potatoes, unpeeled (3 small) 1 pound/450g dried split green peas 2 quarts/2 liters chicken stock or water In a 4-quart/4 liter stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with the olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper until the onions are translucent, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the carrots, potatoes, 1/2 pound of split peas, and chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Skim off the foam while cooking. Add the remaining split peas and continue to simmer for another 40 minutes, or until all the peas are soft. Stir frequently to keep the solids ...

Strawberry Breasts (Fragomammella) Recipe

This 'Two Fat Ladies' recipe is delicious. We did find before pushing the ricotta through the sieve to drain as much as the liquid out of it first. Made for a less runny consistency.  Ingredients 1 pound/450g strawberries 1 tablespoon/15ml lemon juice 1 tablespoon/15ml caster sugar (superfine) 1 1/4/510g pounds fresh ricotta 1/4 pint (1/2 cup/120ml/120g) double cream 3 tablespoons/45ml Campari 4 to 5 tablespoons/8g icing sugar (confectioners') Directions Set aside 16 of the smallest strawberries and cut the rest into small pieces. Put in a bowl with the lemon juice and caster sugar and leave to soak for 1 hour. Push the ricotta through the smallest sieve of a mouli, add cream and Campari, mix well. Sieve the icing sugar into the mixture to your own taste, put a third of the mixture aside and mix the strawberries into the remaining ricotta. Prepare pink dessert plates and divide the mixture into 16 breast-shaped molds, 2 for each plate. With a moistened...

New England Iced Tea Recipe

While growing up in Massachusetts, my family spent summers at our cottage. These cocktails for the adults were a regional variation on Long Island iced tea, and they always showed up at clambakes on the beach. —Ann Liebergen, Brookfield, Wisconsin Ingredients 2 tablespoons sugar 1 ounce vodka 1 ounce light rum 1 ounce gin 1 ounce Triple Sec 1 ounce lime juice 1 ounce tequila 1 to 1-1/2 cups ice cubes 2 ounces cranberry juice Lemon slice, optional Directions In a mixing glass or tumbler, combine the sugar, vodka, rum, gin, Triple Sec, lime juice and tequila; stir until sugar is dissolved. Place ice in a highball glass; pour in the sugar mixture. Top with cranberry juice. Garnish with lemon if desired.  private chefs and event catering Palm Beach + Boca Raton + Fort Lauderdale + Miami Beach info@yadachef.com | 954-367-YADA (9232) 561-285-7466 www.yadachef.com south florida catering and personal chefs

Braised Lettuce (Laitues Braises): A Take On Julia Child’s Recipe

You can use almost any lettuce, such as chicory, or frisee, or Boston Bib if you are busing large heads, cut them in half. We made these pescartarian because of the shrimp stock, but vegan is easy with vegetable stock, or if serving with beef, a  beef stock and bacon. Braised lettuce is a delicious garnish for poultry, white meats such as veal or pork, or steamed white fish. It can be the main accompanied by a warm sweet potato salad. Serves 4 4 heads Romaine lettuce hearts  4 thick slices of bacon (if making not vegetarian or vegan), cut into lardon strips 1 small onion , diced 2 carrots, diced 1 tablespoon/15g plus 1/2 tablespoon/7 butter divided  1 teaspoon/5ml olive oil 1/2 cup/125ml shrimp or seafood stock (see notes above) 1/2 cup/125ml cup white wine or dry white vermouth bouquet garni: 1 parsley branch, 1 branch of thyme,1  bay leaf tied to a cheesecloth ½ tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon parsley Trim stems of lettuce and ...

Health Benefits of Ginger

What are the therapeutic benefits of ginger? Below are examples of some scientific studies on ginger and its current or potential uses in medical treatment. Inf lammation of the colon A study carried out at the University of Michigan Medical School found that Ginger Root Supplement administered to volunteer participants reduced inflammation markers in the colon within a month. The study was published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research. Experts say that inflammation of the colon is a precursor to colon cancer. Co-researcher Suzanna M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., explained that by reducing inflammation in the colon a person reduces their risk of developing colon cancer. Zick said "We need to apply the same rigor to the sorts of questions about the effect of ginger root that we apply to other clinical trial research. Interest in this is only going to increase as people look for ways to prevent cancer that are nontoxic, and improve their quality of life in a cost-effect...