GREENSBORO, N.C. — A popular burger joint in the Triad is temporarily closing its restaurants after two employees tested positive for coronavirus.
Hops Burger Bar said on Facebook that two employees at the Lawndale Drive location in Greensboro got the virus. The restaurant said it will close this location as well as others in order to clean and sanitize and make sure all employees get tested for COVID-19.
Here's the full statement from Hops:
"We will be temporarily closing all of our locations. We have recently learned that two of our employees at our Lawndale location have tested positive for COVID-19. This will allow us time to have all of our employees tested and to perform a thorough cleaning. We feel this is the best decision at this time to ensure safety of our customers, staff, and our community. Thank you for your support, understanding, and patience."
Contact tracers have been working diligently across the Triad to talk with people who have tested positive for the coronavirus, and get in touch with everyone that may have been exposed to that positive case.
"It can be very difficult sometimes and there’s a misconception of who you’re around," said Forsyth County's Assistant Health Director Glenda Dancy.
Investigators are asking those who test positive specific questions about how close they've been to a person and for how long without a mask.
"So a lot of people think, 'Oh just because I walked past somebody in the hallway,' they were a close contact. That’s not who we consider a close contact," said Dancy.
"Many restaurants now, they’re masking," said Dancy, "They’re asking people to wear a mask. So if you’re wearing a mask we wouldn’t consider that close contact."
Even if you're within 6 feet of someone, as long as you're wearing a mask, doctors said that will reduce the likelihood of transmission of the virus.
"You have much less to be worried about," said Physician Assistant with Novant Health Chelle Jeffery.
Jeffery said if you're a customer that's been to a restaurant where an employee tested positive, you don't need to run to get tested.
"If you were eating in the restaurant, I would recommend that you self monitor. Be checking your temperature, assess yourself for symptoms that are new. Cough, shortness of breath, fatigue," said Jeffery, "if you got takeout from there the risk of acquiring the virus that way is very low."