Sunderland pub The Cavalier reopens after deep clean following customer testing positive for coronavirus

The pub on Silksworth Lane, decided to close on Saturday, August 1, after finding out a customer who had visited the night before had tested positive for coronavirus.

Owner Phil Jeffries said the drinker had no Covid-19 symptoms, but had been awaiting test results.

After receiving their own positive result the next day, the ‘heartbroken’ customer then contacted the pub.

It is understood the customer remained in the beer garden.

Mr Jeffries said: “I heard on Saturday that the lad had been in and had tested positive for coronavirus.

"He got his results on Saturday and rang the pub straight away and apologised.

“He was heartbroken about what he had done as he had gone to other pubs and done the same.

"So we decided to shut down.”

The Cavalier decided to close the pub on Saturday to allow for a deep clean, calling in UK Fogging Solutions on Sunday morning to fully decontaminate the premises.

All five staff members were tested and were given the all clear.

Mr Jeffries said that Public Health England later told him the pub did not have to close, but that he did so as a precaution to allow for the deep clean to ensure the safety of staff and customers.

The pub reopened on Sunday, August 2, at around 2.30pm, but Mr Jeffries said the closure has resulted in a loss of around £4,000 in trade, with no drinkers on Saturday and Sunday dinners cancelled.

The Golden Fleece in Silksworth also closed on Saturday following a customer’s confirmed Covid-19 case and has since reopened.

And Ryhope Cricket Club confirmed on its Facebook page that it had closed following a reported Covid-19 case.

The Cavalier owner Mr Jeffries added: “We are back to normal now.

“The bar owners have all done it [closed] off our own backs for the health and safety of our customers.”

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