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An employee's positive test had shut down the diner temporarily. That employee "is still symptom-free and recovering quickly," Guy Fragmin, the owner of 416 Diner, wrote in an updated post on the diner's Facebook page over the weekend.
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“The diner is cleaned and ready for our reopening on Thursday July 9,” Fragmin wrote. “Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our little diner in the district!”
***ORIGINAL STORY (July 2, 2020)***
The 416 Diner in Dayton's Oregon District has become the third Dayton-area restaurant in recent days to announce a temporary shutdown because one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
The employee does not have symptoms and has not worked at the diner since June 27, but the owner of 416 Diner says he plans to keep the diner closed through July 8 out of an abundance of caution. All other 416 Diner employees are scheduled to be tested this weekend.
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"Our reopening date of July 9 is 12 days after the employee last had contact with other employees, (which) allows for a minimum of three days after all employees are tested, and is contingent on all employees returning negative results," Guy Fragmin, the owner of 416 Diner, wrote on the 416 Diner Facebook page Wednesday night.
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Fragmin directed those customers who visited the diner June 27 or after and who have concerns to a free COVID-19 testing site at a Walgreens store in Centerville that offers free testing with an appointment.
“While the threat, in my opinion, is low, I will always choose people over profit and safety over risk,” Fragmin wrote. “I am taking these steps out of my love and commitment to my employees, our guests, and the Dayton community. I am hopeful that you understand my decision and will support our reopening, especially since we’ll be closed for July 4, and our three-year anniversary (is) on July 7.”
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Local health officials also are doing contact-tracing for two other local restaurants after positive employee COVID-19 tests. The Roosters restaurant in Miamisburg is shut down temporarily after five employees tested positive, and Elsa’s Corner Cantina in Sugarcreek Twp. shut down Friday and Saturday last week, and is now serving carryout-only during dinner hours, after one of its employees tested positive late last week for COVID-19.
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According to "Responsible Restart Ohio" protocols created by state health officials and Gov. Mike DeWine, it is mandatory for bars and restaurants to "immediately isolate and seek medical care for any individual who develops symptoms while at work, contact the local health district about suspected cases or exposures, and shut down the area for deep sanitation if possible."
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The “recommended best practices” in such cases calls upon a restaurant or bar to “work with the local health department to identify potentially infected or exposed individuals to help facilitate effective contact tracing/ notifications; once testing is readily available, test all suspected infections or exposures; and following testing, contact local health department to initiate appropriate care and tracing,” according to the “Responsible Restart Ohio” document.
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