A Wetherspoons staff member has tested positive for coronavirus, forcing staff at the Chester branch to self isolate.
Seven staff members at The Square Bottle in Foregate Street were forced to self isolate following contact with the infected staff member.
It is not known whether customers have been contacted by the company under the track and trace system - reports Cheshire Live.
Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “As the Chester Chronicle correctly reported, a number of staff at the Square Bottle, Chester self-isolated after potentially coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.
"The individual who tested positive was a member of staff who self-isolated for the requisite period of 10 days.
“Having been symptom free during that period, the member of staff in question has been allowed to return to work having undergone a return to work interview.
"Seven members of staff who may have had close contact with the affected employee self-isolated as a precaution for 14 days, in accordance with public health guidelines.
“Close contact means being within two metres of a person who tested positive for the virus for 15 minutes or more or within one metre for one minute or more. Apart from the initial staff member who tested positive, there have been no other positive tests at the pub.”
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here.
The spokesman continued: “Having being notified of the positive test, Wetherspoon contacted Public Health England and all the company’s subsequent actions have been taken in consultation with PHE.
“Since reopening, Wetherspoon has implemented a number of social distancing measures in all its pubs: tables have been spaced out, floor screens have been installed between tables, and ‘till surround screens’ have been added at the bar. Staff are conducting regular surface cleaning and, on average, 10 hand sanitisers have been installed in each pub.
Keep up to date with coronavirus cases in your area by adding your postcode below
“Whereas it’s not possible to create an entirely risk-free environment, adherence to social distancing guidelines and rigorous implementation of hygiene standards minimises it.”
Wetherspoon’s North and South Wales Bank pub in Wrexham has been served with a coronavirus improvement notice after three staff tested positive.
A Wrexham council investigation showed social distancing measures in place but a ‘lack of adherence to the guidelines in staff areas’.
Wetherspoons said it was ‘disappointing’ its procedures ‘were not followed on this occasion’ and a spokesperson said that all employees would be retrained.
