With indoor dining now in effect for a few months at this time, many more people are feeling comfortable to go out to eat, being that the tables are spread out and have shields between the customers. In the beginning of 2021, indoor dining was at 25% capacity, but now as of February 5th, it has been bumped up to 35%. People are starting to branch out and try more things while being socially distanced and masked up.

If indoor dining is allowed, people wonder, what about other places? Most gyms are up and running with a limited capacity as well. Unfortunately, due to this pandemic, people have had to get turned away or wait in lines inside being most places are only allowing a certain amount of people. For example, Trader Joe’s in Wayne, off of Hamburg Turnpike, has morning rush hours as always, but with a new virus arising for about a year now, the line wraps around the outside of the store whilst allowing very few people in at a time.

Some wonder if people have been scared to go out. Some people feel that they are now at a stage where they can’t let this virus control their lives, so they have been comfortable to go out, of course being safe about it while staying socially distanced and while wearing masks, and sanitizing.

Some people are saying that if you are able to stand in lines, walk in hallways at school and be in cars with people and touch things others are touching, you should be able to have a good amount of people in a restaurant. “If you can squeeze next to someone on the plane, and touch them, you should be able to go to the gym, restaurants, and back to school,” said senior Thomas D’Agati.

Since indoor dining was bumped up to a higher capacity, many people have been having family and friend gatherings, now that they are allowing more people indoors in one space. “I think it’s good they are ending the restrictions slowly while still allowing people to safely go to restaurants still,” said senior, Brandon Caprioni.