A McDonald's has been forced to undergo a deep clean after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.
The company has confirmed the incident at the Stamfordham Road branch in Newcastle.
The employee self-isolated after coming into close contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.
The person subsequently tested positive themselves and had not returned to work, reports Chronicle Live.
McDonald's said the restaurant has now been deep cleaned "as a precautionary measure" and has reopened.
It is the third Covid-19 case to hit a fast food chain in Newcastle in recent days.
A McDonald's spokesperson said: “One employee at the Stamfordham Road restaurant has self-isolated, having been in close contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19 - that person does not work for McDonald’s.
"The employee has subsequently tested positive themselves, and has therefore not returned to work. As a precautionary measure the restaurant was deep cleaned by an external cleaning company.
"We have a number of safety measures in place to help keep our people safe, including temperature checks at the start of each shift, face coverings, regular hand washing and the use of hand sanitiser.”
Government guidance says that a pub or restaurant which has been confirmed as having a positive case or cases of Covid-19 won’t necessarily need to close, as it will depend on the circumstances.
The current guidance says: "If anyone develops symptoms of Covid-19 in the business or workplace they should be sent home and advised to follow the stay at home guidance and seek a test.
"If a member of staff has helped someone who has developed symptoms of Covid-19, they do not need to go home unless they develop symptoms themselves.
"They should wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds after any contact with someone who is unwell with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection.
"If the person who has been sent home is subsequently confirmed as having Covid-19, they may be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and asked to self-isolate.
"It is not necessary to close the business or workplace or send any staff home unless you are advised to do so following investigation by the relevant authorities. You should keep monitoring the government response to Covid-19 for further updates."
