EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — As many restaurants struggle to stay afloat during the coronavirus pandemic, Aji Japanese Bistro decided to open its doors on Mother's Day.
Dozens of guests could be seen dining inside and outside on the patio at the Japanese restaurant in El Dorado Hills. The restaurant announced its intentions to reopen its dining room under stringent guidelines, which they outlined on their Facebook page.
ABC10 reached out to the owner at Aji Japanese Bistro for comment, but his staff said that he was unavailable. Among the guidelines, the restaurant installed partitions between booths, added several sanitation stations, staff had masks on while performing their duties, while only seating at half capacity, making guests like Michelle Klaff feel comfortable.
"This business is very clean, they made modifications," Klaff said. "We're sitting outside. We're at least six feet apart from other families. So I feel that they've done their part."
Prior to the restaurant's reopening, El Dorado County officials sent a proposal to Governor Newsom asking to move into Stage Two of reopening. As of May 10, there have been no coronavirus deaths in the county. Aji customer David Michael believes supports the idea of the restaurant reopening.
"For our county, we have zero deaths so far, and I believe a .0004 infection rate," Michael stated. "And I go to Costco and Safeway, and they're much more crowded than here. There's no logical explanation for forbidding these people to open up."
El Dorado County has had zero deaths and an infection rate of roughly 0.03% (0.0003 cases per capita). Specifically, the El Dorado Hills community, where the restaurant is located, has had an infection rate of 0.04% (0.0004 cases per capita).
On the restaurant's Facebook page, they said before deciding to reopen, owerns had several conversations with El Dorado County officials about proper distancing guidelines.
RELATED:
FOR THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS,
DOWNLOAD OUR APP:
►Stay In the Know! Sign up now for the Daily Blend Newsletter