Southeast Calgary Mucho Burrito ordered to close after staff worked while showing COVID-19 symptoms

A Mucho Burrito in southeast Calgary has been ordered to close after an employee continued to work despite being required by health officials to self isolate, and one or more employees continued to work while exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.

The restaurant, located at 130 9825 Fairmount Drive S.E. in Acadia, was ordered to close on Friday.

Alberta Health Services said a staff member who was ordered by AHS to self-isolate was on site in the food preparation area of the restaurant, and said staff continued to work while showing symptoms of COVID-19.

Workers at the restaurant were standing closer than two metres from each other and there were inadequate measures to allow for physical distancing between customers, as the pathway customers were required to take within the restaurant resulted in close contact between them, the order stated.

The order also noted a non-COVID-19 health violation — a staff member was changing a baby's diaper in the food prep area of the restaurant. 

The restaurant owner was ordered to:

• Fully disinfect the entire building, and provide documentation of which areas were cleaned and what disinfectant was used.
• Develop a COVID-19 response plan, including staff illness policies and staff health screening processes.
• Provide a staff list to AHS and a copy of the work schedule from the previous two weeks.
• Ensure activities like child care and diapering don't take place in food-handling areas.

The fast-casual Mexican chain's website states that "Employees exhibiting any signs or symptoms of sickness are prohibited from working."

CBC News has reached out to the company for comment.

A total of 15 businesses in Calgary have been the subject of closure orders for breaking public health rules relating to COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to the AHS website: six restaurants, five gyms, two salons, a clinic and a store.