Several Irish bars will shut after a member of staff contracted coronavirus.
Bosses of the Market Bar Group said that a worker fell ill over the weekend and later tested positive for Covid-19.
However they stressed that no other employees have tested positive.
But they confirmed that they will be shutting down all of their venues three days earlier than planned out of the "utmost caution".
A post on social media reads: "On Sunday, a member of our kitchen team was unwell and visited hospital, was examined and then sent home without a test. As they had a temperature, we assisted them in getting an antigen test. The test came back positive for COVID-19, so yesterday we tested all our work force with the very sensitive GP standard PCR test.
"None of 60+ hosts, waiters, bar or front of house team tested positive. We contacted and reported this to the HSE Live team and, whereas they did not request we shut the business, we have made the decision anyway, and, to show the utmost caution, we have taken the correct and difficult decision to close all our venues three days earlier than we had anticipated."
Bosses went on to say that they will "endeavour" to keep their takeaway food and mulled wine and beer service open at Fade Street.
They added: "Hospitality at Christmas is a tough time. Restaurants and bars make most profit over this season but the pressure we work under is very high too.
"COVID has compounded this pressure many times and the company would like to extend its thanks to all our employees for helping to making The Market Bar, The Black Market, Idlewild and The Chelsea Drugstore safe places for our guests to enjoy the festive season.
"We will re-open in the new year when permitted. From January we will offer our takeaway menu through Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats as well as our Click and Collect service from our website www.marketbar.ie
"We look forward to welcoming you all back in more normal times.
"May we wish you and yours a safe, healthy and Happy Christmas."
.png?w=600)
