McDonald’s restaurant forced to shut after coronavirus outbreak as five workers test positive for bug
A MCDONALD’S restaurant has been forced to shut following a coronavirus outbreak.
Five workers tested positive for the deadly bug at the branch on Wellington Road South in Stockport – which closed its door to customers on Sunday.
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Five workers have tested positive for coronavirus at the McDonalds branch on Wellington Road South in Stockport[/caption] The restaurant was forced to close on Sunday after the outbreak[/caption]A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “We have proactively decided to temporarily close our Stockport restaurant as a precautionary measure following a rise of Covid-19 cases in the local area with five of our employees testing positive.
“We have been in contact with all the restaurant employees and also with Public Health England and the Environmental Health Officer.
“As with all of the decisions we have made across this unprecedented period, the safety of our people and customers is our absolute priority, and we will re-open as soon as we feel we can.”
‘MAJOR INCIDENT’
It comes after a concerning rise in cases in the Manchester area and across the North West of England, prompting the government to declare a “major incident” last night.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has already reintroduced restrictions for some 4.5 million Brits living in the region who are now banned from socialising with their family in another house.
Stockport, where the McDonalds branch has shut, has seen its infection rate surge from 8.2 infections per 100,000 people on July 22 to 26 per 100,000 people a week later.
Stockport MP Navendu Mishra told the Manchester Evening News that he had written to the fast food giant with his concerns about the outbreak.
He said: “My main concern is the health and safety of staff members, customers and family members of the workforce.
“As a community we expect a company with McDonald’s’ resources to have A* safety measures in place.
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“If this turns out not to be the case we should all ask why.”
It’s not the first time that an outbreak of the bug has been reported at a fast food chain – after a KFC in Glastonbury, Somerset was forced to shut when a worker tested positive for the coronavirus.
And another McDonalds in Great Bridge, Sandwell shut its doors last week when five employees caught the virus.
The fast food giant has issued strict guidance for customers[/caption]