Two staff members from Aberdeen’s Hawthorn Bar have tested positive for coronavirus following a outbreak of the disease on Sunday.
The pub on Holburn Street has temporarily closed its doors to the public after 32 cases of the virus were detected at the premises.
It is understood customers, who tested positive for Covid-19, visited the pub on July 26.
In a social media post, the bar confirmed that two members of staff had contracted the virus and the venue would be closed for the next 14 days.
The statement read: “We have closed the doors to The Adams & The Hawthorn since Sunday night as a precautionary step.
“This virus was brought into our venue and there is zero evidence that we were the first or only venue entered by the positive member/s of the public.
“We find solace in knowing our actions have helped prevent further spread of the virus.
“After having our whole team tested, unfortunately we have come back with two confirmed positive cases.
“Due to other staff potentially being in close contact, we have made the decision to close our venue for 14 days.
“Our thoughts are with these two team members who have helped massively since reopening post lockdown as well as any customer affected.”
Investigations are ongoing to identify those who may have been in contact with the virus, with the bar saying all customers who were signed in on that date should have been contacted by NHS Grampian’s Track and Trace system.
NHS Grampian confirmed the number of cases detected in the Aberdeen cluster now stands at 32 with health protection and Test & Protect teams identifying 120 close contacts of detected cases.
Dr Emmanuel Okpo, consultant in public health medicine, said: “I know this is a concerning time for people in Grampian. I want to stress again that only people with symptoms of Covid-19 should arrange a test.
“Getting a ‘not-detected’ result when you do not have symptoms does not mean that you are ‘safe’ as the virus can take several days to develop. It also does not mean that you can avoid self-isolation if you are identified as a close contact of a detected case.”
The recognised symptoms of Covid-19 are a loss of the sense of taste or smell, a fever, or a new, continuous cough. Anyone experiencing these symptoms, however mild, should isolate at home immediately and arrange a test.
People working in health and social care in the north east should access the staff testing service; the general public should contact NHS 24 on 111 or use the NHS Inform website to book a test.
Deputy director of public health, Chris Littlejohn, added: “I would encourage the general public to stick with the facts of this case. I understand the desire to pinpoint a person or place responsible for this cluster.
“However, it is important to realise that this virus is circulating in the community. Anyone could contract it, and anyone could infect others. We all need to take responsibility for our own behaviour.”
Deep clean
PB Devco, which owns Aberdeen bars Soul and College announced today all of its premises will be shut “until we feel safe to reopen” in response to the latest discovery of coronavirus cases.
The Hospitality firm that also operates The Queen Vic, So, Vovem Meat & Liquor, The Bieldside Inn, The Howff, and So…Zen, will also be closed “with immediate effect”.
Soul Bar, on Union Street, had been widely criticised over the lack of social distancing with pictures of crammed queues as revellers enjoyed their Saturday night.
Prohibition has also made the decision to close to give the bar an intense clean.
The Langstane Place venue released a statement online stating that customer safety was the top priority.