‘A difficult pill to swallow.’ The Burger Saloon temporarily closes due to COVID concerns

After learning some staff members may have come into contact with an employee who recently tested positive for COVID-19, the Burger Saloon in Woodland is temporarily shutting its doors.

The employee hasn’t worked at the restaurant since March but is close friends with several employees who have worked more recently. While it’s not clear that current staff members have come into contact with him, contact tracing is currently being arranged to ensure that no staff members are infected, co-owner Phil Perry said.

“We want to ensure that if he’s come in contact with any of our staff who are his friends, that everybody is clear. So we’ve closed pretty much in an abundance of caution,” Perry said.

All staff members have been told to be tested, and none will be allowed back to work until they provide proof of a negative test or self-quarantine for 14 days, according to a company Facebook post.

Perry also said he’s unsure when the restaurant will reopen. But now that it’s closed for “at least a day, if not this week,” it will undergo an extensive disinfection, Perry said. When staff members do return, they will continue to wear masks and undergo daily temperature and symptom checks.

This decision comes as coronavirus cases surge in Sacramento, a development that has resulted in the closure of indoor restaurant dining and movie theaters in 19 counties. The new closures ordered by Gov. Gavin Newsom are expected to remain in force at least three weeks.

Unlike many other restaurants, even as restrictions were lifted on in-house dining, the Burger Saloon chose to stick exclusively with takeout and outdoor seating last month when restrictions were lifted.

“Here at TBS, we have consistently chosen the conservative approach to anything COVID-19 related. The decision to temporarily close is a result of this approach,” the company’s Facebook post said.

Perry stressed that as the restaurant gears up to reopen, safety of both customers and staff remains his top priority.

“We want to ensure that not only all of our staff remains safe, but that anybody that comes in proximity with our staff — eating in front, or just being handed food in their car — that they can be comfortable that the Burger Saloon is doing everything possible to maintain the safety and wellness of our staff and our patrons,” Perry said.

Though running a food service business has led to “increasingly difficult decisions to make every day,” the Burger Saloon maintained via Facebook that the closure was the clear choice.

“It is a difficult pill to swallow, but an easy decision to make. We appreciate your understanding and hope to be back soon.”

This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 12:45 PM.