Takeout continues at Boston restaurants as surrounding communities clamp down amid coronavirus concerns

Restaurant takeout will continue in Boston as long as establishments “practice social distancing” even as neighboring cities and towns put more restrictive measures in place, Mayor Martin Walsh said.

“It’s an opportunity for us to let the restaurant business continue to move forward. They’re struggling as well and they’re providing a service,” Walsh said.

Coronavirus cases are climbing by hundreds every day in Massachusetts and Boston with both Walsh and Gov. Charlie Baker agreeing the peak has yet to come.

Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo pressured beach-area restaurants to end takeout and switch to delivery this weekend saying he was “concerned that too many people aren’t taking our guidance to stay at home and practice social distancing seriously.”

Coronavirus cases jumped from eight to 83 in Revere in just one week, something Arrigo attributed to too many groups of people congregating on the beach and elsewhere during nice weather. Revere restaurants voluntarily made the switch to discourage gatherings.

“I know what a difficult time they are going through, and ultimately all we had to do was ask. They really stepped up for the community,” Arrigo said.

In Arlington last week Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine mandated curbside takeout or delivery-only service on the recommendation of local health officials and as “a prudent measure to reduce the person to person interactions,” he said.

Theses are steps Walsh said Monday he “hopes we don’t get to.”

At Yellow Door Taqueria in the South End, an accordion-style window separates customers from staff as they pass cash and food back and forth, said Colleen Hagerty, managing partner.

“I hope they let us keep doing it,” Hagerty said. Yellow Door currently offers takeout from its South End and Dorchester locations. Hagerty’s other restaurant — Citrus & Salt in Back Bay — shut down because there was no safe way to operate a takeout counter without risking exposing guests or staff, she said.

Dr. Davidson H. Hamer, of the Boston University School of Public Health, said social distancing ideas are “more than theoretical, they should actually help reduce risk.” He emphasized that people should stay at least 6 feet apart and wash their hands frequently, but can coexist in public by following those basic guidelines.

“Having a lot of people in a crowded restaurant is not a good idea. If a restaurant can’t control the volume of people inside, then they need to think about an alternate strategy,” Hamer said.

Hagerty said staying open, even just for takeout, has been a “ray of sunshine.”

“No one’s getting rich, if anything, we’re breaking even,” she said, “but if we can give a couple of cooks a paycheck and keep a presence in the community … it’s worth it.”