Kingston McDonald’s closes for deep cleaning after employee tests positive for COVID-19

KINGSTON, Mass. — The Town of Kingston ordered the temporary closure of a McDonald’s restaurant after learning an employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to a statement Health Agent Arthur Boyle released on Friday.

Boyle said the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod contacted the town late Thursday afternoon to inform them an employee at the Summer Street restaurant was infected with the virus.

The town’s board of health contacted McDonald’s for an immediate 24-hour closure and instructed management to perform a thorough cleaning and disinfecting in accordance with current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines before reopening.

“As soon as we were notified of the confirmed case, we immediately closed the restaurant to conduct a thorough sanitization procedure,” Mark McBee, the restaurant’s owner, told Boston 25 News in a statement.

Boyle said the employee is “known to have worked while symptomatic” on September 20, 21 and 22.

Boston 25 News reached out to McDonald’s corporate office and learned the employee didn’t work on September 20. The employee worked on September 21, but didn’t exhibit any symptoms and passed their pre-shift wellness and temperature checks. The employee reported to work on September 22 and passed their pre-shift wellness and temperature checks, but left early because they started to feel sick.

The employee received a COVID-19 test on September 22 and the results came back positive on September 24.

McBee said he closed the restaurant for a deep cleaning immediately upon learning of his employee’s positive test result.

“We have also identified and reached out to all restaurant staff who had been in contact with the employee who contracted the virus,” McBee added. “These employees have been asked to self-quarantine at home for 14 days to ensure they remain healthy before returning to work.”

The infected employee hasn’t been to work since September 22.

“The Kingston Board of Health, The VNA of Cape Cod, and McDonald’s are following state protocol in notifying any persons known to have had close contact with the employee that tested positive,” Boyle said.

McBee offers sick pay to his employees, which can be used by employees waiting on the result of their COVID-19 tests or employees required to quarantine for 14 days. He also pays for their COVID-19 tests.

“In addition, all employees have been provided [personal protective equipment] to wear during their shifts, the restaurant is conducting wellness checks before each shift, and sick pay is available to employees,” McBee said. “Our highest priority is to protect the health and well-being of our employees and customers.”

Boyle recommends anyone who visited the McDonald’s on September 20, 21 or 22 to contact their doctor for advice on getting tested.

Anyone with questions or concerns can also contact the Kingston Board of Health during normal business hours at 781-585-0503 or by emailing kivers@kingstonmass.org.

Cox Media Group