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A tented structure with no walls still allows for air to easily flow in any direction through and under the tent, according to Marr. “Once you start adding walls, you potentially block that wind. Once you add four walls, you’re getting close to being indoors and you lose that benefit of being outdoors.”

The dining igloos and domes have some benefit, said Marr, because they isolate you from other diners.

\"PHOTO:
Bernd Thissen/picture alliance via Getty Images
PHOTO: In "Novy's Brasserie" guests are served at tables in small greenhouses, in Hagen, Germany, May 14, 2020.
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A 3-D animation shows how one infected person could transmit virus to other diners within the dining igloo.

via GIPHY

But if someone in your own dining party is infected, there is high potential to contract the virus because there’s very little airflow by design in these structures.

\"I feel it’s only prudent to [be in an igloo] with people in your own household,\" Marr said. She also advised there should be sufficient time between seatings -- at least 20 minutes -- so the igloo can air out.

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The \"best case scenario,\" according to Marr, is \"sitting outside under the great blue sky, no tent, no roof.\"

\"If someone happens to be infected and is releasing viruses into the air, there’s more of an opportunity for the wind to carry it away,\" she said. \"What happens is the virus becomes so dilute that the chances of any one person breathing in enough of those to get sick is very, very low.\"

\"PHOTO:
Byron Smith/Getty Images
PHOTO: People dine al fresco in Little Italy on Mulberry Street between Hester and Broome Streets on July 4, 2020 in the Manhattan borough of New York City.
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Marr explained that even outdoor diners should still behave as though they’re indoors. That includes keeping tables socially distanced, wearing a mask when not eating and minimizing contact with those outside your own party, such as the server.

A 3-D animation shows how virus particles dissipate in open air, with no ceiling or walls to restrict air flow.

\"There’s no zero-risk scenario,\" Rimoin said, \"because there’s no control who you’re seated next to and not wearing a mask.\" But she agreed with Marr that an open-sky scenario is the best option because \"the more air circulating, the better it is.\"

\"PHOTO:
Noam Galai/Getty Images
PHOTO: People wear protective face masks at an outdoor restaurant in the Flatiron District as the city continues Phase 4 of re-opening following restrictions imposed to slow the spread of coronavirus on July 26, 2020 in New York City.
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Experts also advise that restaurants reduce the level of background music and noise so that diners can speak more quietly.

According to Marr, a person releases particles just by breathing and talking, so the louder a person talks, the more particles -- or aerosols -- they release.

\"If someone’s infected, they’re going to release viruses in aerosols as they talk. And so if we can, we should try and keep our voices down,\" Marr said.

And while heat lamps may make for a more comfortable evening outdoors, they have little effect on increasing air movement and won’t dilute the virus in the air, she added.

ABC News' Derick Yanehiro, Dr. Jay Bhatt and Kelly McCarthy contributed to this report.

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