A touchscreen any day is safer
When ordering with a human order taker
• To be heard, you have to stand in close proximity, so there is a chance of inhaling each other’s breath.
• Even if the mask quality is good, they are not always worn properly, often slipping down uncovering the nose.
• And masks are often rudimentary, sometimes washed so many times that there is barely any material left!
• At 6 feet “safe” distance, in a noisy place we may have to speak loudly to be heard, which takes our breath much further, making 6’ no longer safe
• Secondary infection potential point is during transfer of menus/cash/ credit cards between order taker and customer

When ordering at a touchscreen,
• no one is directly breathing into your face
• Even if the previous user has contaminated the screen, you are only touching the screen with a fingertip, and fingers can be easily sanitised with alcohol before and after use
• The screen itself, before use, can be easily sanitised, in a second with an alcohol wipe
• Menus and payments are all at the touchscreen kiosk, reducing secondary infection

(In the interest of full disclosure, Palas manufactures touchscreen self-ordering kiosks for restaurants)