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Survey: Most Chattanoogans not ready to dine-in

Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / A table set for specifically two diners is seen at Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe on Monday, April 27, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Restaurants around Chattanooga began to reopen following the shutdown due to the coronavirus.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / A table set for specifically two diners is seen at Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe on Monday, April 27, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Restaurants around Chattanooga began to reopen following the shutdown due to the coronavirus. Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter / A table set for specifically two diners is seen at Purple Daisy Picnic Cafe on Monday, April 27, 2020 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Restaurants around Chattanooga began to reopen following the shutdown due to the coronavirus.

By Barry Courter, compiler 2 min read

Most Chattanoogans are not ready to return to restaurant dining rooms despite getting the OK for inside dining this week from Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger, according to a Times Free Press online survey.

Among 1,083 persons who responded to the online poll this week, more than 80% said they don’t plan to dine-in at local restaurant, at least so far.

Almost 98% of the respondents plan to continue social distancing even after businesses reopen. Almost an equal number, 95.7 % of the people who replied have not been tested for COVID-19.

(READ MORE: These Chattanooga area restaurants are open for dine-in service amid the coronavirus pandemic)

In the informal survey, 77.1% of the voters said they felt that reopening businesses now will lead to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, while 10.1% said that they did not think it would, and 12.8% said they did not know.