[ad_1]
A Cork hotel, which opened in April to serve front-line HSE staff battling Covid-19, will temporarily close after two of its employees tested positive for the virus in recent days.
The Kingsley Hotel on Carrigrohane Straight in Cork City closed when the pandemic struck in March, but opened its doors and 130 rooms in April to serve front-line HSE personnel involved in fighting the infection.
But now the Kingsley, which is owned by Chinese hotel operators Kang Family Worldwide Group, has been forced to shut down again after two staff members tested positive for Covid-19.
Kingsley Hotel General Manager Fergal Harte posted on the hotel’s Facebook page Wednesday that the hotel was temporarily closing and that management and staff were working with the HSE to contain the outbreak.
“In the last few days, two members of our team have tested positive for Covid-19. We are currently working with the HSE and are following all appropriate best practice protocols, ”said Mr. Harte in charge.
“As a precautionary measure and in the interest of the safety of our staff and guests, we have independently made the decision to close the hotel today, Wednesday, October 7, 2020, for a short period of time.
“We would like to wish the members of the team in question a full and speedy recovery. We would also like to thank our guests and members for their support and understanding at this time. “
Harte apologized for any inconvenience caused by the decision, but said he and his staff look forward to welcoming guests to the four-star luxury hotel built in the 1990s on the site of Lee’s former baths.
The hotel, which is located on the Lee River floodplain, was closed for several years after suffering severe flood damage in 2009, but reopened in 2014 when it was bought by Kang Family Worldwide Group for € 6 million.
Beijing-based Kang Family Worldwide Group also purchased the luxurious Fota Island Resort in East Cork from Nama for around € 20 million in 2013 and operates it through a subsidiary, Xiu Lan Hotels Ltd.
[ad_2]