Two Charlotte restaurants close temporarily due to COVID exposures
As the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to surge throughout North Carolina, two Charlotte restaurants have gone above and beyond with coronavirus precautions, closing temporarily this week after employees were exposed to COVID-19.
Dot Dot Dot closed on Tuesday after an employee was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 outside of work. The restaurant at Park Road Shopping Center will reopen Wednesday as all tests have come back negative. “While there is no risk of this exposure affecting guests and other staff members at Dot Dot Dot, as an exercise in caution, we will be closing temporarily,” stated a social media post.
What The Fries, a popular South Charlotte restaurant that features loaded fries and tots, has also closed to sanitize the restaurant and test other employees after an employee contracted COVID-19. “Thank you for your patience and understanding,” the team posted on social media on Wednesday evening.
On Saturday, What The Fries posted an update alongside a photo from Ecolab Disinfection Service: “We have sanitized restaurant as a extra precaution, and staff has been tested (and some in progress) and will report back to work next Tuesday August 24.”
On social media, customers were largely supportive of the restaurants’ decisions. “I wish other Charlotte businesses were as transparent and responsible as you. Thank you,” Peter Engels stated on What the Fries’ Facebook post.
“As always, I’m impressed with y’all and your commitment to safety and community,” Yvonne Green posted on Instagram.
The restaurants’ closures coincided with the city of Charlotte’s new mask mandate, which went into effect at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Mecklenburg County’s mask mandate will begin Aug. 28.
On Monday, North Carolina reported 2,651 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, the highest number of hospitalizations since Feb. 4.
This story was originally published August 19, 2021 at 10:13 AM.