Customers who visited two Penrith pubs over the weekend have tested positive for coronavirus, as Eden experiences a spike in infections.
Managers at both hosteleries — the Board and Elbow in Corn Market and the Castlegate Arms — moved to reassure customers that they had the situation under control and were still open for business.
Caroline Tyson, assistant manager at the Board and Elbow, said the customer who tested positive for the virus had been sitting at a table for two at the top end of the pub on Friday afternoon and Sunday lunchtime.
“We have got everything under control,” said Ms Tyson. “We have put a lot of precautions in place in the pub and have been told by licensing officers and the police that we are one of the safest and best run pubs in town.
“So it’s just a bit frustrating this has happened when we have been so vigilant over the past three weeks. What we can’t do is control other people’s common sense and how they behave.”
She said that the pub was alerted to the coronavirus case on Wednesday morning. All staff have since tested negative for the virus.
The pub has contacted Eden District Council’s licensing and environmental health departments and the customer has also been in touch with the NHS track and trace programme.
“We have not had a confirmed case in terms of staff,” said Ms Tyson. “It is still very much business as usual here.”
Ms Tyson highlighted the raft of measures the pub has put in place to protect both staff and customers.
She said that there was sanitiser at the front door, there was a one-way system in place and the names and contact details of customers were taken by staff to enable track and trace to take place.
She said there was a plastic screen from the top to bottom of the bar and staff worked in “bubbles” with one on the door, one on food and another behind the bar for their entire shift.
The pub has also developed a phone app which enables customers to order food and drink without having to leave their table.
“We are very stringently following government guidance and anyone turning up in a group of more than six is refused entry,” said Ms Tyson. “We are also working to a capacity of 60 indoors, which is part of our risk assessment.”
Since the pub reopened after lockdown, customers have also been able to follow a journey through the pub on its Facebook page.
Chloe Dine, manager of the Castlegate Arms, said that all staff had been tested and had been given a clean bill of health. She added that the customers had been sat in a booth and had visited on Friday and Saturday.
“It was a bit of a shock, but with everything that is going on at the moment we just have to get through it the best we can,” she said.
The pub is maintaining one-metre social distancing, there are hand sanitisers throughout, there are also cleaning stations for the staff who are all wearing masks.
A post on the pub’s Facebook page urged customers showing any signs or symptoms of coronavirus to stay at home and get tested.
It added that the pub management had been advised by local authorities that it was still able to remain open following government restrictions.
“We will keep everybody updated on any changes and hope everybody stays safe,” said the statement.
The weekly COVID-19 status report released by Cumbria County Council shows a continuing increase in cases in Carlisle and also new small spike of cases in the Eden area. It says the increase in Eden follows a long period of very low case numbers in the district.
The total number of positive cases in both areas remains below other areas of concern in the North West, but the rates of infection per 100,000 population are significantly higher than the overall North West and England averages.
The latest figures show that Eden currently has 178 confirmed coronavirus cases, which represents 337 cases per 100,000 of population. Last week there were 159 cases. The number of deaths in Eden has also risen by one since last week, to 42.
The local multi-agency Health Protection Board is closely monitoring the situation and is proactively contact tracing known cases.
Data suggests that the situation in Eden is related to a small number of specific events but work continues to understand and contain the outbreak. Further information and advice will be issued to the public if deemed necessary by the Health Protection Board.
Colin Cox, Cumbria’s director of public health, said: “The outbreaks we’re seeing in Carlisle and Eden are putting these areas in the national spotlight, but the situation is significantly different to what is going in other parts of the region and appear to be connected to social events and the night time economy.
“What is of concern is the fact that infection numbers are increasing, even though the total number of cases remains comparatively low. It is notable that a significant proportion of the new cases in Carlisle and Eden relate to house parties or barbecues where there was mixing between groups from multiple households.
“I urge people to think carefully before holding these types of gatherings.
“To contain the spread we need people to stick to the basic public health advice — social distancing, hand washing, wear a mask or face covering in enclosed public spaces and self-isolate and get tested if you start showing symptoms.”
He added: “What has been clear from events this week is how important it is that pubs and other venues have really robust arrangements in place to collect and store contact details for customers and that customers provide accurate information when asked.
“Public feedback has indicated that there have been differences in the approach taken by different venues and some have been more effective than others.
“Initially this week we took a blanket approach to publicly identifying pubs and venues which had been visited by people who were likely to have been infectious. “This was no reflection on those venues and we thank them for their co-operation.
“In future, we will only name venues when we do not have sufficient confidence in the contact tracing information that has been collected and believe that a general public message is necessary to ensure all possible contacts are made aware.
“If people are contacted by our contact tracing team, either on the phone or by text message, it is really important that they follow the advice given. This the best way we have to keep this virus in check.”
