A coronavirus outbreak linked to a pub barbecue has prompted an urgent appeal for 70 punters to self-isolate.
The Soho Foundry Tavern in Smethwick, West Mids, reported a coronavirus outbreak linked to the Black Country boozer and made the decision to shut on Thursday.
Three people who were there, including staff, have since tested positive, the local authority has confirmed.
Sandwell Council and Public Health England bosses are asking the 70 people who attended the event at the pub last Sunday (August 2) to self-isolate.
Health officials are telling people who were at the pub in Foundry Lane to self-isolate until next Sunday (August 16).
Deputy council leader Maria Crompton said: "We urgently need to alert anyone who attended the event last weekend to self-isolate until Sunday 16th August.
"If they have any symptoms they should book a test.
"Everyone needs to stay incredibly vigilant - the virus is still out there and the situation remains extremely serious - as this potential outbreak shows."
The council also praised the pub manager's action in response to the outbreak.
"They did exactly what we would want business owners to do in this situation," director of public health at the local authority, Dr Lisa McNally said.
"They voluntarily took the decision to close and contacted us for advice. I would urge all businesses to do the same.
"Pubs need to be very careful at this time to gather contact details of customers and ensure social distancing at all times."
The borough of Sandwell was named as an "area of concern" last week and put on a national watch list.
However, the rate in the borough has since dropped by a third after the spike.
Cases nationally rose back over 1,000 a day on Sunday for the first time since June.
