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Coronavirus: 19 people test positive for virus after outbreak linked to pub

Nineteen people have tested positive for coronavirus after an outbreak of the virus linked to a Staffordshire pub.

More than 1,000 people came forward to be tested after an outbreak was linked to the Crown & Anchor in Stone, prompting health bosses to urge anyone who had been working or drinking at the pub on July 16-18 to get checked.

Staffordshire County Council previously said that one person who had tested positive from the pub had gone on to attend a private social gathering, potentially spreading the virus further.

A mobile testing unit was set up in the town, and final results from tests carried out are expected early next week, Staffordshire County Council said.

People wearing face masks walk past the Crown and Anchor pub following a spike in cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to visitors of the pub in Stone, Britain, July 29, 2020. REUTERS/Carl Recine
Nineteen people have tested positive for coronavirus following an outbreak linked to the Crown and Anchor pub in Stone, Staffordshire. (Reuters)

On Sunday the council said 19 people had tested positive who had visited the pub themselves or met others who had.

Dr Richard Harling, the council’s director of health and care, said everyone who had been in close contact with those with confirmed cases was being contacted and advised to stay home for 14 days even if they have had a negative test result and are not showing any symptoms.

Dr Harling said: “The gathering that caused the spike is now a few weeks ago, so we are now looking more at incidents where pub-goers may have passed the virus on to a friend or loved one.

“All those who have been in close contact with the 19 confirmed cases are being contacted and if you are one of these people you must stay home for 14 days, even if you feel well or have tested negative for the virus.”

He added: “This outbreak shows how quickly the virus can spread when people don’t social distance, so it is important that everyone in Staffordshire follows the guidance to help prevent a second peak in infections here.”

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