Kirklees pub shuts after staff member tests positive for coronavirus

The Navigation Tavern, in Station Road, posted the instruction on Facebook after a member of staff tested positive for the virus.

The post said they were acting on the advice of Kirklees Council - but confusion reigned hours later after the pub deleted the original post and said the council had given them wrong advice.

The Navigation Tavern has become the third Mirfield pub or bar to close because staff or customers have tested positive for the virus.

The Travellers Rest in Upper Hopton and The Office wine bar in Mirfield town centre both closed last week after a customer tested positive.

The Travellers has been closed for over a week while The Office has announced it will re-open on Saturday.

Deep cleans were underway at all three venues.

The original post on the Navigation’s Facebook page confirmed a staff member had tested positive. The pub would remain closed until enough staff had been tested and given the all-clear.

The post added: “Speaking with Kirklees Council, everyone who was in the pub Saturday, Sunday and Monday should arrange a test and self isolate until they have had a result.

“This is a direct instruction from environmental health. We will be notifying everyone who signed in and track and trace will will notify everyone who scanned in.”

Later that posted was removed and was replaced by another which said they had been told by the council that “everyone who had been in the pub since Saturday had to self-isolate for 14 days.

However it said that turned out 'not to be the case'.

The pub said they were 'given the wrong advice from Kirklees'.

When questioned by confused customers, the Navigation replied that they needed further clarification from Kirklees, adding: “If they don’t know, how’s anybody else supposed to?”

The Office posted on its Facebook page to say the premises will re-open tomorrow (Saturday).

The post added: “We have fogged the entire venue again and will do one last deep clean on Saturday morning just for good measure!

“It’ll be our first week of the 10pm curfew but you should all be experts at that by now.

“We’re going to be even more super vigilant after being closed for so long, so please help us by bringing with you your MASK and your common sense! If either have been left at home then it’ll be no entry.

“Please be assured that we have taken all necessary steps and precautions to keep you safe. We took pride in how we were dealing with things before this happened and truly believed we were doing everything we could. But these things just happen.”

The Travellers has no date for re-opening.

Kirklees Council has been asked to comment on the matter.