Coronavirus: Pubs close again after punters test positive for COVID-19

A number of pubs which reopened for the first time since lockdown measures were imposed have had to close again after punters tested positive for coronavirus.

Bars across England welcomed drinkers on Saturday more than three months after the coronavirus outbreak closed down the hospitality sector.

But three pubs have since alerted their patrons that they have had to shut again after cases of COVID-19 were detected.

The Lighthouse Kitchen and Carvery in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, said a customer had tested positive.

The pub added it was making its way through a list of people who were in the bar on Saturday and may have come into contact with the customer.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the pub added: “All our staff are going to be tested and we will reopen when the time is safe to do so.”

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The Village Home pub in Alverstoke, Gosport, said it had also “had a case of coronavirus” on the premises and added that “some of us are in isolation”.

The bar said on Facebook: “The pub is now shut but all being well will open again on Saturday. Anyone who was in the pub over the weekend there is no need to isolate unless you show symptoms or are contacted direct by the trace group. Thank you and hope to see you soon.”

The Fox and Hounds in Batley, West Yorkshire, said it had closed after receiving a call from a customer on Monday to say they had tested positive for coronavirus.

“After completing a deep clean of the pub, our publican and his team are looking forward to safely re-opening tomorrow,” said Andy Spencer, boss of Punch Pubs & Co which runs The Fox and Hounds.

Mr Spencer said the pub had the required safety measures in place and had closed as a precaution.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the pubs were “doing the right thing by their customers and by their communities”.

“This is NHS Test and Trace working precisely as intended,” he said. “Three pubs shut so that others can be open.”

Georgia Gosling, who visited the Fox and Hounds at the weekend, said the owners had got in contact the day after to tell visitors to get tested for coronavirus.

Ms Gosling said she later tested negative.

Pub regular David Jones said the business had “done everything the government asked them to do”.

“They’ve kept all the customers informed of what they’ve been doing so it’s not been a secret,” he said.

“They’ve done a fantastic job getting it ready for the reopening and now they’ve had this unfortunate incident which is no fault of their own but again they’ve done the right thing.”

Referring to the pub’s owners, he added: “I think locally as well, they’re well-respected.”

(c) Sky News 2020: Coronavirus: Pubs close again after punters test positive for COVID-19