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Several bars in Dublin city center will close their doors even before this festive season after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
Heads of the Market Bar group, which operates The Market Bar, The Black Market, Idlewild and The Chelsea Drugstore in and around George’s Street, confirmed that a kitchen staff member tested positive for COVID on Sunday.
The group examined the rest of the staff on Monday, and fortunately did not return any other positive cases.
But they have closed their four pubs three days before the new closing date of Christmas Eve.
In a lengthy Facebook post, the bosses said they were grateful to their customers and would be reopening in the New Year, as well as offering a new takeout menu in 2021.
They also pointed to “the lack of clarity from the Government and the constant changes in the opening hours of catering companies.”
The post read: “Since the beginning of the first shutdown, The Market Bar Group has strived to ensure that we meet the highest standards of COVID-safe meals for our guests and employees. We have followed these rules carefully and in this we have been recognized. .
“On Sunday, a member of our kitchen team was unwell and visited the hospital, was examined and then sent home without a test. Since they had a fever, we helped them get an antigen test. The test came back positive for COVID. -19, so yesterday we tested our entire workforce with the very sensitive GP standard PCR test.
“None of the 60+ hosts, bartenders, bar or reception team tested positive. We contacted and reported this to the HSE Live team and even though they didn’t request that we go out of business we made the decision anyway and to show The utmost caution, we have made the right and difficult decision to close all our locations three days earlier than we had planned.
“This is for the safety of our guests, as well as the safety of our employees. This has always been a primary concern in all of our work during this extremely challenging year. The lack of clarity from the government and the constant changes in business hours. Opening of restaurant businesses and the terms under which we are allowed to operate have not helped either.
“We will strive to keep our takeout, mulled wine and beer businesses open on Fade Street.
“Hospitality at Christmas is a difficult time. Restaurants and bars make the biggest profits this season, but the pressure we work under is also very high. COVID has compounded this pressure many times and the company wishes to extend its thanks to all. our employees for helping make The Market Bar, The Black Market, Idlewild and The Chelsea Drugstore safe places for our guests to enjoy the holiday season.
“We will reopen in the new year when allowed. Starting in January we will offer our takeout menu through Deliveroo, JustEat and UberEats, as well as our Click and Collect service from our website www.marketbar.ie
“We look forward to welcoming you all in more normal times.
“May we wish you and yours a safe, healthy and happy Christmas.”
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