Number of metro restaurants temporarily closed due to COVID-19
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Continue below for a list of closed restaurants
Since Wednesday, a number of Minneapolis bars and restaurants have announced temporary closures after employees tested positive for COVID-19.
“It’s concerning of course,” said Liz Rammer, the CEO of Hospitality Minnesota. “It’s really hard when our businesses are only at 50 percent occupancy right now […] it’s really hard to make the business work, it’s just not profitable like that. With these episodic moments, to have to stop, shut down, close clean, that’s not easy either.”
The Department of Health told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that it is not mandatory for a business to close after an employee tests positive. It’s up to the business to determine whether they have adequate staffing to continue serving customers.
When an employee tests positive, a business is required to determine who had close contact with that employee, according to MDH. Those individuals have to quarantine for at least 14 days.
"This is taking it that next step to make sure it’s extra safe work environment for the employees and for the patrons," said Rammer. "In the case of some of these places with few staff in the business right now that really decimates their ability to carry on if they lose a number of staff members."
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Rammer urges people who visit restaurants to follow mask-wearing rules and social distancing policies.
“We do not want to go backwards, we want to go forwards and open more fully,” said Rammer. “So it’s really in everyone’s best interest, if you want to see your favorite place stay open and get more open, what you need to do is help these operators by really respecting these requirements.”
The recent closures include the following:
Mortimer’s originally closed on Tuesday after two people who had been in the building tested positive for COVID-19. On Wednesday, an announcement on the Minneapolis bar’s Facebook page said it would remain closed "until we figure out a safe plan to move forward."
According to the Minneapolis restaurant, one of its employees who worked on Saturday tested positive for COVID-19. All of the employees who were around the employee who tested positive have been contacted and are quarantining. The restaurant will remain closed until further notice.
Nico’s Taco and Tequila Bar announced it would close its Uptown location after an employee tested positive. The restaurant will be closed "for at least the next few days" to allow for sanitizing.
Northeast Moose Bar and Grill, a Minneapolis bar known for its karaoke, announced it would close after two of its staff members tested positive. The bar says it will require all of its staff to be tested before reopening.
Another Northeast Minneapolis karaoke bar announced it would temporarily close after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. Vegas Lounge reported it will be closed through July 24.
In Wayzata, the French restaurant Bellecour announced it would close. The restaurant said the employee who tested positive hasn’t worked in the restaurant since July 5. Out of caution, the restaurant will be closed to be sanitized.
In Minneapolis, Red Rabbit announced they would close due to an employee living in a household with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution the restaurant will close temporarily for a deep clean.