Two staff at a McDonald’s in Greater Manchester have tested positive for coronavirus

The China Gardens branch of McDonald’s in Bolton saw two members of staff test positive for Covid-19 last week. 

Public Health England and Bolton Council’s Environmental Health officer have been made aware of the cases.

A cleaning company has also been hired to perform a deep clean of the premises.

The news comes following the reintroduction of local lockdown measures in the borough, due to the area having one of the highest rates of the virus in England. 

A spokesperson for McDonald’s said: “Two employees at the China Garden restaurant tested positive for COVID-19 last week and are self-isolating.

“As soon as we were informed, the restaurant was deep cleaned by an external cleaning company, and we contacted restaurant employees, as well as Public Health England and the Environmental Health Officer.

“We have a number of safety measures in place to help keep our people safe, including Perspex screens, temperature checks at the start of each shift, maintaining a two metre distance from others as much as possible, face coverings, regular hand washing and the use of hand sanitiser.”

Bolton Council confirmed the ‘unforeseen spike’ in the local infection rate means restrictions will remain in place in the area ‘until further notice’.

In the week to August 29th, Bolton recorded 170 new cases, up from 53 the week before. 

Bolton council leader David Greenhalgh said: “It is with a heavy heart that [we] have come to this decision and this will be incredibly disappointing for both residents and business owners.

“We urged the government to lift Bolton out of the additional restrictions at a time when infection rates were low. This was the right decision at the time.

“However, there has been a sudden and unforeseeable rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Bolton.

“We have always been led by the data, which means we have no choice but to act quickly to keep everyone safe.”