The Navigation Inn in Canal Road, Ripon, hopes to reopen on Wednesday after temporarily closing because a customer tested positive for coronavirus.
Manager and licence holder Chloe Smith said on the pub’s FaceBook page on Sunday evening:
“After a long day, of many conversations with different professionals, I have spoken in depth with Public Health England, and they have advised that we are fine to reopen the pub.”
She added:
“For the next three days the pub will be deep cleaned each day.”
Staff at the Navigation Inn, Ripon
All staff will be tested for the virus and if tests come back negative the pub hopes to reopen on Wednesday.
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The decision to close temporarily was taken to ensure the safety of customers and staff and came after the pub’s management was informed that a person who visited on Thursday, August 13, had subsequently tested positive for coronavirus.
Following lockdown in late March caused by the coronavirus crisis, pubs and other hospitality businesses across the country were only allowed to reopen on July 4 when the government eased social distancing rules, reducing the distance from two metres to one.
Strict hygiene and safety requirements, including provision of hand sanitisers at entry and exit points and the installation of screens to protect bar staff, are in force and pub goers are required to complete NHS Test and Trace forms.
Official government advice on Test and Trace is as follows:
“If you receive a request for information from NHS Test and Trace this does not mean that you must close your establishment. NHS Test and Trace will, if necessary, undertake an assessment and work with you to understand what actions need to be taken.
“Depending on the circumstances and the length of time that has elapsed, this could include arranging for people to be tested, asking them to take extra care with social distancing and/or – in some circumstances – asking them to self-isolate.
“NHS Test and Trace will give you the necessary public health support and guidance. Your staff will be included in any risk assessment and NHS Test and Trace will advise them what they should do.”
