One in hospital as eight members of staff at pub test positive for virus

EIGHT members of staff at a Wetherspoon pub have tested positive for coronavirus with one currently in hospital, the company confirmed in a statement last night.

A total of eight people who worker at the Bank Statement in Wind Street, Swansea, have tested positive with a male member of staff “admitted to hospital with a condition believed to have been caused by Covid-19”.

He was asymptomatic prior to attending hospital on Tuesday, a spokesman for pub giant JD Wetherspoon said.

The first affected member of staff tested positive on September 9 and went into self-isolation but since then a further seven staff members have gone on to receive positive test results.

A spokesman for JD Wetherspoon said: “We understand that seven of the eight employees who tested positive experienced mild symptoms and we wish them well. Our thoughts are with the employee in hospital and we wish them a swift and full recovery.

“We have been working with Public Health Wales and the local authority with these cases and they have advised that there is a low risk to customers at the pub, who should continue to follow social distancing measures and other recommended control measures including regular hand-washing.”

A pub in Llanelli has closed after three positive coronavirus tests were linked to it.

Tafarn-Y-Felin in Heol Beili Glas, Llanelli, announced that it will shut for 48 hours from September 17 for the pub to be “deep cleaned”.

The members of staff who have tested positive are now self-isolating an other workers are in the process of being tested too.

In a statement, the pub said: “We have had three positive cases of coronavirus confirmed at the Tafarn-Y-Felin.

“We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you, but hope you understand we are only taking this action for everyone’s safety.

“If NHS Test, Trace and Protect Service need to contact you they will do so independently.

“Could we politely remind you the importance to provide your details when you visit pubs and restaurants and we ask for your cooperation in complying with this.”

A spokeswoman for pub chain Marston’s, which owns the Tafarn-YFelin, said: “The pub has temporarily

closed to carry out a full deep clean of the premises. The local authority Environmental Health Officer has been notified and we are following the appropriate procedures.”

Meanwhile, pupils in a specialist unit at a comprehensive school in Swansea are self-isolating after a member of staff tested positive for coronavirus.

Letters have been sent to the parents of children in the Specialist Teaching Facility (STF) at Penyrheol Comprehensive School, Gorseinon.

Ten pupils and eight members of staff at the school has been told to selfisolate for 14 days.

The rest of the school is open as normal and the head teacher has sent letters to parents of the other children in the school, advising them to attend as normal.

However, a Swansea Council spokesman is advising that parents of children who have not been in contact with a positive case “keep an eye on their children as a precaution”.

A member of staff at Gower College’s campus in Gorseinon has tested positive for coronavirus.

The lecturer works within the health and social care department at the college.

Some students have been asked to work from home while the college looks at the “full implications” of the situation.