Should Officials Dine In Restaurants to Boost Consumption?

Restaurants and shops, shut down to contain the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), are now reopening as the situation improves.

But the problem is that fear is still making people reluctant to dine out. So to encourage them, senior government officials in many provinces have begun to take the lead. They are eating out to indicate that it’s safe. In some places, the administration itself is urging officials to do so.

Some think this leading by example will encourage people who have so far stayed at home, either due to city lockdowns or fear of being infected, to spend money in restaurants and shops. This will help rev up economic growth. But some doubt the effectiveness