I don't believe the issue is the distance. Shoes walk in credit cards get dropped, Picked up, Go home, shoes walk around house. Cat walks on floor and jumps on counter
Think about all the nuances that occur in a restaurant. How often is that towel that wipes down the counter and tables rotated out. Ever see a server hold a glass with fingers gripping the top edge of a glass after they just wiped down the table and handed out the menus that were last washed? Where do we put our silverware after placing the napkin on our lap? How many of us make it a point of washing hands after you place order? By all means toss the paper towel after washing hands and then using it to open the restroom door.
Nurses game me all sorts of literature to read about germ transference in public places and at home prior to stem cell transplant. There are innumerable means germs get to our orifices from some other persons. Oh, make sure wife wipes down her purse after she puts it where baby butts go while shopping. Hopefully prior to when sh drops it on the counter with the grocery bags.
Be super smart people!