Keeping SC’s bars and restaurants open longer could actually reduce COVID-19’s spread

The spread of COVID-19 by younger Americans is not being reduced, as older lawmakers thought it would, by closing bars at earlier hours.

More young people are going out earlier, bringing them in contact with older adults.

When restaurants and bars close, young people simply go to house parties where there is no adherence to social distancing practices.

The solution is not to condense times that individuals congregate in public.

Nor is it to condemn the countless private businesses that provide jobs and critical income to so many in our community.

9 to 5 is over

With most American workers changing routines of work during the pandemic, the traditional 9 to 5 work day is gone.

Health care workers, police and fire protection employees have always been on different schedules — but now workers in a multitude of different professions may work entirely different schedules, too.

As offices and schools begin to reopen, reducing the number of people in one place at one time can ease the spread of COVID-19.

Curfew backfired

When the city of Columbia enacted a curfew and grocery stores started closing at 8 p.m., people made a mad dash to get to the stores earlier.

It only increased the number of people in one place at one time.

Those who had to work left work earlier — and health care and other essential workers were often left without the ability to go shop for their goods and necessities.

When the city of Columbia enacted a curfew, it saw cases rise as more people congregated in areas during the day and parties by young people moved into the homes and neighborhoods of older, more vulnerable adults.

And when Gov. Henry McMaster required bars to close earlier, the young crowds just started coming out earlier with the older adults.

A better response

Working in the two worlds of health care and hospitality, I’ve seen it from both sides.

Our sales are slowly approaching pre-COVID times, but the sales that used to occur after 9 p.m. are now happening between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. — which is increasing the number of individuals in the restaurant during that time.

The better response of the government would be to extend the hours to sell alcohol.

A move to extend the alcohol sales to 24 hours per day would allow people with vastly different schedules to safely buy their goods and visit restaurants at different times.

As lifestyles change because of COVID-19, people could go and meet their friends for supper and drinks at 10 p.m. and still make it to work the next day by noon.

It would also reduce the number of people out at any given time, as well as decrease overall traffic at any given time on the streets.

During the late 1800s some politicians thought that street lights and lighting inside businesses would destroy the American lifestyle; they believed it would keep people from going home to their families at a decent hour. The response to the COVID-19 outbreak to restrict movement has spread the disease faster.

Government should act

Some larger cities have already begun to change work hours to reduce the number of people on mass transit — and the data is showing that COVID-19 is not spreading as rapidly since riders began riding at different times.

Can you imagine reducing rush hour traffic by staggering working hours?

I would like to see our local government take the first step.

It should set up alternate hours of service for its workforce.

For example, the city offices — even the courts — could be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Meanwhile, the city could spread out the workforce and client traffic. It could put employees on track systems where they would work 12-hour days; in fact, the city could even do this seven days a week.

Yes, we are in a unique situation that hasn’t been seen in our lifetime. But with a little common sense and a thoughtful conversation, we can find real solutions.

Condensing the amount of time that people are in the same places together has only caused COVID-19 to spread more, not less.

Let’s get real about stemming the spread of this virus.

Scott Middleton has a master’s degree in Public Health Care Administration from the University of South Carolina and has practiced public health safety for the last 25 years. He is the founder of a statewide in-home care company, SC House Calls, and multiple restaurants on Main Street in Columbia.

This story was originally published September 17, 2020 at 7:28 PM.