Hamilton County restaurant inspections are complaint-based during COVID-19 pandemic

Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Owner Callie Meta, left, rings up a to-go order at Olive Branch on Thursday, April 23, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Itճ been a little over a month since the Hamilton County Health Department issued a statement noting that it would suspend its routine inspections of area restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Environmental Health Director Bonnie Deakins said her department has had only a couple of complaints from patrons alleging that some restaurants were not following some recommended policies regarding how to safety get food to people. Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / Owner Callie Meta, left, rings up a to-go order at Olive Branch on Thursday, April 23, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Itճ been a little over a month since the Hamilton County Health Department issued a statement noting that it would suspend its routine inspections of area restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Environmental Health Director Bonnie Deakins said her department has had only a couple of complaints from patrons alleging that some restaurants were not following some recommended policies regarding how to safety get food to people.

By Barry Courter April 24, 2020 5 min read

It’s been over a month since the Hamilton County Health Department issued a statement noting that it would suspend its routine inspections of area restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Environmental Health Director Bonnie Deakins said her department has had only a couple of complaints from patrons alleging that restaurants were not following some recommended policies regarding how to safely get food to people.

“Everyone has been cooperative,” she said.

“We’ve had only a few complaints, and we’ve been working those complaints. They’ve mostly been complaints that social distancing was not being observed, and we’ve contacted those owners and managers, and it’s been taken care of.”