West Sussex pub linked to coronavirus outbreak reveals reopening date

A West Sussex pub which was linked to an outbreak of 16 cases of coronavirus has revealed when it plans to reopen.
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The Downsman Inn in Crawley temporarily closed on July 19 after two members of staff tested positive for Covid-19 but is now set to reopen on August 3.

Public Health England organised contact tracing of customers and identified 16 confirmed cases of coronavirus with a link to the Southgate pub, in Wakehurst Drive, and customers.

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Landlady of the Downsman Caz Patterson, said the pub had strictly observed social-distancing and safety measures since reopening on July 4 and made the decision to close after two members of staff tested positive.

Caz Patterson at The Downsman Wakehurst Dr, Crawley. Pic Steve RobardsCaz Patterson at The Downsman Wakehurst Dr, Crawley. Pic Steve Robards
Caz Patterson at The Downsman Wakehurst Dr, Crawley. Pic Steve Robards

Every member of staff were tested and told to self-isolate for 14 days and Crawley Borough Council called on people who had visited the pub between July 9-18 to do the same.

Mrs Patterson said the two members of staff who tested positive were now both ‘absolutely fine’.

She said: “As our regulars will know, we have gone to painstaking lengths to ensure the pub is as safe as possible for our customers with regular deep cleaning, social distancing, PPE, screens and hand sanitising stations.

“We will be open again from August 3 after further deep cleaning and steam fogging throughout the pub and look forward to welcoming back our customers.”