Colorado Springs, Colorado (KRDO) – Just over a month after the first In-N-Out locations opened in Colorado, The state is reporting a COVID-19 outbreak in restaurants in Aurora and Colorado Springs.
The Colorado Springs website has 60 employees who have tested positive for COVID-19, according to updated state data on Wednesday. The outbreak was confirmed on Dec.6 and is still active; Nine other Springs employees are presumed to have tested positive for the virus.
Rachel Tolesowski, the overseas customer, was only aware of the outbreak after she had already eaten.
„It’s a little worrisome, but is it transmitted through food or something else? I really don’t know,” Tolesowski said.
At Aurora’s In-N-Out, the outbreak was confirmed on December 17, 20 employees tested positive for the coronavirus while 16 others are presumed to be positive.
Restaurants do not make up a large part of the COVID-19 outbreak in Colorado. However, both popular burger hinges have been busy with a stream of customers since their opening.
IN-N-OUT OPENED: Years of anticipation have spawned giant streaks of double and animal french fries, so was it worth the wait? pic.twitter.com/wS0TodRtMP
– KRDO NewsChannel 13 (@ KRDONC13) November 20, 2020
Both sites remain open amid reported outbreaks. A family learned of the outbreak while they waited to submit their application at the drive.
Jin Shimon said, „It was a calmer reaction. Because we thought it wasn’t really on the roofs and it shouldn’t affect it in any way. But there was definitely a little bit of the reaction.”
El Paso County Public Health spokeswoman Michelle Hewitt said in a statement: “Public Health has been working closely with In-N-Out since the outbreak was identified to provide education, guidance and technical assistance. This includes verifying appropriate quarantine and isolation procedures, cleaning guidelines. And disinfection, and make recommendations as needed.
Denny Warnick, Vice President of Operations at In-N-Out, sent KRDO the following statement:
Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and partners. We are committed to doing our part to prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus.
Over the past few weeks, we have seen a disturbing number of Colorado Associates who have tested positive for COVID-19. Our thoughts and prayers are with our partners and we hope for a speedy recovery for all of those affected. Of course, all positive affiliates and those with close contact with them were excluded from the workplace.
We continue to work closely with our public health agencies and have emphasized appropriate steps to help protect our communities. These steps include: restricting the number of employees to the minimum necessary to serve our customers, using employee „groups” to limit potential exposure, and limiting access to the dining room to takeout orders only while ensuring adequate physical spacing.
At In-N-Out, we have always used the highest standards of health and safety to protect our customers. It includes excellent hand washing practices and frequent disinfection procedures for the entire restaurant. We strongly require employees to stay home from work when they are not feeling well. As an added layer of caution, every member receives a thorough health and temperature check before work begins. We continue to offer contactless payment options, self-service beverage stations temporarily closed, and provide hand sanitizer to our customers and partners everywhere.
„Organizator. Scriitor general. Prieten al animalelor de pretutindeni. Specialist în cultură pop. Expert în internet amator. Explorator.”