A quiet revolution has permeated global health circles. Authorities have come to accept what many researchers have argued for over a year: The coronavirus can spread through the air.

With its five wall-length windows, Nick Crandall's restaurant, Railroad Pub & Pizza, can bring in a lot of outside air. In late December, though, Washington state regulators said the restaurant could not qualify as "outdoor" dining, and would have to close because of heightened coronavirus restrictions.