VERO BEACH — A third popular beachfront eatery has temporarily shut its doors after an employee tested positive for coronavirus.
Waldo’s, located at the Driftwood Resort along Ocean Drive, closed abruptly Thursday after a kitchen staff member tested positive for COVID-19, General Manager Lee Olsen said. The worker was sent home Monday after he reported not feeling well, Olsen said.
“We’re all taking it very seriously,” Olsen said. “I’d rather be over cautious.”
The worker was the first person at Waldo’s to test positive with the infection. Olsen said the employee was not exposed to customers in the dining area.
Two other oceanfront eateries – Bobby’s and The Ocean Grill – also previously closed after an employee at each of the businesses tested positive for COVID-19. Capt. Hiram’s Resort in Sebastian closed after two workers tested positive for the infection.
The resort partially reopened Monday.
The closings come as the country is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases, including in Florida.
Even though Waldo’s is closed, the Driftwood Resort remains open. The two are separate businesses, Olsen said.
Staff will complete a deep cleaning at Waldo’s over the weekend. Olsen said Indian River Home Care, a healthcare service agency that uses a private facility, tested all 40 Waldo’s employees on Friday.
“I had everybody tested for their safety and well-being, and to not put our clientele at risk,” Olsen said.
If all the results come back negative, then the restaurant will reopen Monday. Olsen said management should receive the results back by Sunday.
Olsen said staff at Waldo’s have been wearing masks and gloves since mid-March to help prevent the spread of the virus. Employees are given temperature checks before the start of each shift.
“We’ve been doing it right since it all began,” Olsen said.
Anyone who reported feeling sick was sent home and required to get tested. Those who test positive are not allowed back to work until they bring paperwork showing a negative test result, Olsen said.
