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Applebee’s employee tests positive for COVID-19

An Applebee’s Grill and Bar employee in Fort Dodge tested positive for COVID-19, prompting a temporary closure of the restaurant’s dining room Wednesday.

The restaurant closed Wednesday morning and will reopen for dinner Thursday after it undergoes a deep cleaning, according to Dave Phillips, spokesperson for the franchisee.

“We have strict and rigorous disinfection processes and health protocols in our restaurant, including health checks prior to each shift,” Phillips said in response to The Messenger’s inquiry to confirm the positive employee.

Phillips said the employee who tested positive last worked “nearly a week ago,” and is in quarantine.

An employee first reported the COVID-19 case to The Messenger, insisting on the condition of anonymity given the risk to their employment and lack of authorization to speak to the media.

That employee said that concerns about the lack of precautions taken for other employees’ health prompted them to report the case.

“I was in direct contact with them all of Thursday afternoon,” the source said, estimating that the positive employee came into direct, sustained contact with at least three other employees and indirect contact with many others. All of us are still working.”

The source alleged that while employees were asked by management if they felt “comfortable” continuing to work, local management insisted employees continue to work unless they “absolutely” test positive for COVID-19 and remain symptomatic. Infectious disease and public health experts generally estimate that about 20% of those infected will remain asymptomatic and potentially contagious.

Representatives for Applebee’s declined to comment on the company’s policy for employees who test positive and those who come into close contact with positive employees.

“Some cleaning policies have been lax until now,” the anonymous employee said, with wearing masks and thorough cleaning. “It’s not that we haven’t been doing a lot, but I think (management is) dropping the ball with this, and that’s why I decided to call (The Messenger.)”

Though Webster County Public Health is available to assist local businesses with issues regarding the coronavirus, disclosing outbreaks is generally left to the discretion of restaurants, according to Public Information Officer Kelli Bloomquist.

“The first thing we’d (try to) do is ensure everyone is tested,” Bloomquist said, speaking generally. “We’ve been proactively target testing (in the county.)”

WCPH did not have any information available to them Wednesday indicating a positive case at Applebee’s.

Those who do test positive in Webster County undergo contact tracing investigation by qualified public health staff to ensure that those in direct contact with the patient are tested, as well. The positive Applebee’s employee’s residential status was not known; it is possible they live in or were tested in another county.

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