Closed pub hits back over its Covid-19 case
‘Log was kept of all customers’
A PUB that was dramatically forced to close its doors less than 48 hours after reopening following an outbreak of coronavirus has issued a ‘statement of facts’ in response to criticism.
The Village Home Pub, in Village Road, Alverstoke, reopened on Saturday for the first time since March but hastily had to close again after a member of staff tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday.
News of the outbreak left residents ‘frightened’ with anxiety over the virus spreading through the tightknit area of Gosport where houses and shops are closely packed together.
Messages on the pub’s
Facebook page revealed strong views on both sides as the pub came under fire after releasing a statement earlier in the week confirming a case of coronavirus.
Donna Davidson, responding to the latest statement, added: ‘This is far better but shame about the sarcasm.’
The Village Home’s updated message revealed it made ‘every effort to adhere to government guidelines including separate entrance/ exit, sanitising stations, designated service areas and posters informing customers about social distancing’.
Revealing more about the Covid-19 case, the statement continued: ‘All staff were fit and showing no signs or symptoms of any illness.
‘On Sunday morning a member of staff was informed that someone in their family bubble had tested positive, they immediatelywentforatest.
‘On Monday this test was confirmed as positive despite neither of them showing any symptoms.’
The statement said Environmental Health and Public Health England (PHE) were contacted with NHS Track and Trace deployed before all staff were tested.
‘All other staff have now been tested and all are negative but some remain in selfisolation under PHE advice,’ the statement said.
‘Anyone that did visit the pub knows that a log of all customers was kept.’
The statement added: ‘To reiterate our original message: anyone who was in the pub over the weekend there is no need to isolate unless you show symptoms or are contacted directly by the trace group.’
The Park Tavern, in Park Road, and The Fighting Cocks, in Clayhall Road, closed as a precaution.
A pupil at Leesland Church of England Infant School, in Whitworth Road, Gosport, tested positive on Wednesday.