Despite new safety rules, 2 Manatee restaurants close after employees test for COVID-19
Two Manatee County restaurants have temporarily closed their doors after staff members tested positive for COVID-19, even after taking all the safety precautions recommended by public health officials.
Both the Sea Hut, 5611 U.S. 19, Palmetto, and the Anna Maria Island Beach Cafe, 4000 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, are closed until further notice, both companies recently announced via social media.
Restaurant staff had complied with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines to separate tables by at least 6 feet and to require employees to wear masks and other safety gear. Despite those protections, two employees tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the Sea Hut and one tested positive at the AMI Beach Cafe.
“While closing is not required or mandatory, we believe temporarily closing is the safest option right now,” The AMI Beach Cafe said in a Monday morning Facebook post. The cafe is located adjacent to Manatee Public Beach.
Both restaurants have announced that they will disinfect their buildings and require each employee to be tested for COVID-19 before they open again. The temporary closures make a tough time even harder, according to the owners of the Sea Hut.
“This has been a very difficult time for all business and this is certainly not helping the cause,” they wrote on Facebook. “Stay safe, my friends, and thank you for your continued support.”
This story was originally published June 22, 2020 at 11:23 AM.
