[bsder]

> as long as you're not putting diners in circulation-restricting tents

The problem is that this is EXACTLY what they are doing.

One mexican restaurant near me has a nice parking lot that they converted to outdoor dining. Yes!

And then put a tent up with heaters under it because it got "cold". ARRRRGH!!!!!!

[ketzo]

As long as it’s an actual tent, with open sides, it’s a pretty huge improvement. I don’t have the link, but I read that basically anything outdoors with open sides might as well be totally outdoors, since the heat created in the tent will naturally cause the air to be exchanged constantly (plus, obviously, the breeze).

[chipotle_coyote]

Oh, sure, I've seen it too, which is why I had to add that caveat. "Yes, outdoor dining is much safer!" "..uh, maybe not like that."