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Prompted by a rise in coronavirus cases, the country’s mayors and governors are imposing new restrictions on bars and restaurants, including curfews and the forced shuttering of indoor dining rooms.

On Monday, Philadelphia issued a new public health order closing down indoor dining, alongside gyms and movie theaters.

But the most dramatic rollback of business reopenings is happening in California and New York. 

Last week, San Francisco Mayor London Breed issued an order requiring all indoor dining in the city to close over the weekend, even though the city still qualified for the state’s least restrictive tier at the time.

“If this closure does stay in place, it’s going to have devastating consequences,” says Laurie Thomas, the owner of two restaurants in San Francisco and executive director of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association (GGRA).

Many restaurants have been able to stay afloat by increasing their takeout business, especially through gig-economy delivery services.

Those hurt the most by in-person dining shutdowns are restaurant wait staff, who typically make 50%-70% of their income on tips.

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