'Our social responsibility': Kelowna restaurant voluntarily closes after 'several' staff members test positive for COVID-19
A restaurant in Kelowna, B.C., is voluntarily closing for a few days after several staff members recently tested positive for COVID-19.
Central, a restaurant and bar close to Kelowna's Waterfront Park, issued a statement on social media late Sunday night.
"We are sad to report that, despite our industry leading COVID safety measures, Central has had several staff members test positive for COVID-19," the statement said.
"We feel it our social responsibility to close for a short period of time to ensure we are doing our part in curbing the spread throughout our neighbourhood."
The statement said it had received information from Interior Health that suggested "several restaurants, bars and nightclubs are experiencing outbreaks."
CTV News Vancouver has reached out to Interior Health for more information. The health authority does not have any workplace closures listed on its website. Just one exposure notice is listed for Gotham Nightclub, which happened on July 18, according to Interior Health.
Regarding that exposure, Interior Health said a "cluster" of infections had been identified, but didn't say how many. Gotham was the second nightclub in B.C. to be the subject of a public exposure warning since the province allowed such facilities to reopen with COVID-19 safety plans in place on July 1.
Health authorities in B.C. only issue public exposure warnings when there is a risk of COVID-19 transmission and officials are unable to contact everyone who may have been exposed.
Central said it plans to remain closed from July 26 through July 30. The restaurant's statement said its COVID-19 safety measures include wearing masks, physical distancing, partitions and sanitizing stations.
"This is not an easy decision but Central has always operated with the health and well-being of our staff and customers at the forefront of our business operations," the statement said.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Ian Holliday
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.