• As the coronavirus spreads and many businesses close their doors, the restaurants in New York City that remain open have been forced to pivot to takeout and delivery business only.
  • According to Eater, the demand for takeout at posh Manhattan restaurant Carbone was so great that it led to crowds of delivery drivers standing close to each other in the street as they waited for their orders.
  • Jobs for delivery couriers have increased as restaurants switch to delivery-only models to mitigate the coronavirus outbreak.
  • But delivery drivers do not get paid sick leave if they work for gig-economy apps like Caviar, meaning they are more likely to go to work sick, public-health expert say.
  • Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

As New York City residents order take-out to protect themselves from the coronavirus outbreak, delivery workers risk their health by bringing them food.

Gary He at Eater reported that a crowd of delivery couriers for the app Caviar could be seen waiting outside Carbone, a posh New York City Italian restaurant. Several Twitter users also posted photos that show large groups of delivery workers gathered in front of the restaurant, standing less than the CDC-recommended 6-feet distance from one another.

https://twitter.com/dpteran/status/1240075044912599041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Eater reported that on March 20, city police had to disperse the crowds of delivery drivers for the second time that week. Delivery bikers reportedly shouted at each other to "social distance," or move away from each other, as they began leaning their bikes on cars to get closer to Carbone's doorway to hear their delivery number.

Carbone, an expensive Italian restaurant that services celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Drake, numbered among the most popular restaurants of 2020 in a January ranking conducted by booking platform Resy. Securing a reservation at Carbone is notoriously difficult. Among the restaurant's to-go offerings is its famous $69 veal Parmesan; other menu items include a whole branzino for $95 and rigatoni for $32.

The COVID-19 coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people in New York, the most of any state in the US as of March 23, leading governor Andrew Cuomo to order non-essential workers to stay at home. Under these guidelines, pharmacies, groceries, and restaurants - only for takeout or delivery - are considered essential businesses. On March 20, President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for the state of New York.

The restaurant and hospitality industries are in a state of total uncertainty

The coronavirus outbreak has upended the restaurant and hospitality industry. Business Insider's Katie Warren reported that up to seven million restaurant workers could lose their jobs in the next three months.

Jobs for delivery bikers and drivers have increased as restaurants switch to a take-out only model. But couriers for delivery apps like Caviar work in the gig economy, meaning they don't have paid sick leave.

Public health professor Marissa Baker previously told Business Insider that without paid leave, workers come into work sick - a phenomenon known as "presenteeism" - and present a public-health risk the entire community. "I can't say coronavirus is being spread faster because of presenteeism, but it is a consideration," Baker said. "Presenteeism has been shown to cause other workplace epidemics."

Business Insider contacted Caviar and Carbone for comment but the companies did not immediately respond.