Charlotte-area restaurant closes briefly after employee tests positive for COVID

The Office, a restaurant in Indian Land, South Carolina, temporarily closed Thursday after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, according to an announcement posted to its Instagram account.

The employee last worked Tuesday night and was asymptomatic. The employee had their temperature checked before beginning their shift, according to the post.

Managing Partner James Rivenbark said The Office has followed all local guidelines, including temperature checks, keeping tables apart to accomodate social distancing and requiring masks for employees. Other employees who were in close contact with the employee who tested positive were informed to get tested and self-quarantine.

The employee was tested a second time for COVID-19 and tested negative, Rivenbark said.

“We will continue to treat it as a positive result as we do not know why there is a discrepancy between tests. Our customer’s safety is our top priority. As we all go through this pandemic together, we will continue to maintain safety standards while serving our loyal customers,” Rivenbark said in an email to CharlotteFive.

The Office offers to pay for its employees to receive a COVID-19 test at any time, Rivenbark said.

The restaurant said it has consulted with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, has completed the necessary steps in accordance with the Palmetto Priority commitment and will continue to deep clean the restaurant.

The Office reopened Thursday at 4 p.m.

The Office is a craft bar and kitchen located four miles off the Johnson Road exit of Interstate 485, across the state border. South Carolina reopened restaurants on May 4. Before Phase 2 of North Carolina’s reopening plan began on May 22, The Office was a popular destination for North Carolina residents wanting to enjoy food and drinks at a restaurant.

This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 5:24 PM.