NYC Restaurants Go Months Without Inspections During Coronavirus

NEW YORK CITY — A torrent of New York City restaurant inspections — a massive enterprise requiring thousands of visits, prominently-displayed letter grades and more — shut off completely on a single day in March.

The inspections didn't restart for months as the city grappled with the coronavirus crisis, and even then it was more of a trickle. They took on a modified form in which inspectors only "educate" rather than issue summonses or letter grades, officials said.

"During this interim period, we will be assessing our approach as we monitor the COVID-19 public health emergency in New York City," states city guidance on the new inspections sent to restaurateurs. "We will notify restaurants when we plan to resume normal inspections."

There is no timeline for when routine restaurant inspections return to their pre-pandemic form, even as indoor dining returns to New York City, officials said.

Data shows health inspectors conducted about 148,000 restaurant inspections in 2019. This year, they conducted 32,000.

Most of this year's routine inspections occurred up until March 19, according to data. Officials logged 487 inspections that day.

The number of inspections the next day? Zero.

For the next month? Zero.

And the month after that? Zero.

Routine inspections didn't begin until August, but they're not counted in the health department's official inspection log. That's because "the goal is education, not enforcement," a health department spokesperson emailed Patch.

The health department said they'll gather data on modified inspections and send it to Patch. This story will be updated when it is received.

So for the foreseeable future, restaurant inspections will follow the following guidance issued by the city:

• You will be notified about the timeframe of an upcoming inspection.
• Inspections will be shorter, limited to checking for conditions most associated with foodborne illness, pest conditions, compliance with New York State COVID-19 requirements and smoking.
• During most inspections, inspectors will educate only and not issue summonses or letter grades. There are two exceptions: (1) if hazardous conditions are observed and cannot be corrected before the end of the inspection, the restaurant may be closed as a temporary measure to protect public health; and (2) if restaurant staff interfere or obstruct the inspection process, the NYC Health Department may issue a summons or take further action.

Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said he hoped inspections would continue in this form as the restaurant industry gets back on its feet.

"As indoor dining resumes along with Health Department inspections, we hope the focus is on education and training focused inspections to ensure public health and safety," he said in an email.