Stanley pub virus outbreak puts ‘more than 100 customers at risk’

More than 100 people are at risk of contracting coronavirus after four positive tests were linked to a County Durham pub.

Anyone who has visited Stanley’s Empire Club between Sunday 9 August and Tuesday 11 August is asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Health chiefs are trying to find everyone who was there.

The pub has closed, along with the city’s Ball Alley, the Phoenix Club and the East Stanley Workingmen’s Club, which have also been linked to cases of the virus.

Amanda Healy, director of public health for Durham County Council, said her concerns were “primarily” with the Empire Club.

‘Stop the spread’

“We ask people to self-isolate because they are considered to have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

“We believe there are over 100 people who have been in the Empire during those three days.

“The club are working very closely with us and have gathered the addresses and phone numbers of some people and we have forwarded them to the NHS Test and Trace.

“However, it may take a little while for them to be contacted, so we want to appeal for people to self-isolate to stop the spread of the virus as quickly as possible.”