Two more Durango restaurants have announced they will temporarily close for the immediate future as a result of possible COVID-19 exposures.
J. Bo Pizza & Rib Co. will close for a few days after the owners learned one of their employees had come in contact with a person who had COVID-19.
Owner Bo Maloney said he was alerted by San Juan Basin Public Health that an employee had outside contact with a person with COVID-19.
The employee was tested and hadn’t received results as of Friday, but out of an abundance of caution, Maloney decided to close the restaurant at 1301 Florida Road for a few days, starting Friday.
“We’re just being ultra-safe with this,” he said.
The restaurant will take the opportunity with the closure to do a deep clean. Maloney said he hopes to reopen next week.
“We just wanted to be proactive with everything and make sure everyone is safe,” he said.
The African food-based Eat Zawadi also announced it would be closed until at least Oct. 16 after “several key members were recently exposed to a COVID-positive individual on our staff,” the restaurant said in a statement.
“This global pandemic has created a number of unusual challenges that require creativity, flexibility and patience from all of us,” the statement said. “We are so grateful for your support and we look forward to returning to full-strength.”
A handful of restaurants were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic this week.
After one employee tested positive, Steamworks Brewing Co. decided to close until further notice. And two people at Grassburger recently tested positive, though the restaurant has chosen to remain open.
jromeo@durangoherald.com