At Least 30 COVID-19 Cases Are Linked To A Karaoke Bar In Quebec & It's Shut Down
This is probably more than customers bargained for when they went out for a karaoke night. A Quebec City bar has been linked to at least 30 cases of COVID-19. Now the joint has shut down so that cleaning can be done.
As of September 1, the Regional Public Health Directorate of the Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre for Quebec City is reporting that 30 cases of COVID-19 so far are related to Bar Kirouac.
"Our ongoing investigations also show us that there is a circulation of the virus in the community," said Dr. Jacques Girard, interim director of the city's public health authority, in a news release.
He asked for people to respect the health and safety measures that are in place especially when they're at gatherings where there is alcohol.
Bar Kirouac posted a notice to customers on Facebook about the "unfortunate events" that are happening.
In French, the establishment said that it would stay closed until September 9 after people contracted the virus over the weekend.
With the closure, everything will be disinfected a second time.
The post also noted that nobody ordered them to shut down, it was done voluntarily to make sure that people feel safe.
CBC reporter Steve Rukavina tweeted that the bar's owner said plexiglass shields were installed, the number of people allowed inside was reduced and the microphone was disinfected after each singer.
Some of Bar Kirouac's regulars admitted to not getting tested after they were asked to and others said they went to other places even after they were told to isolate.
According to the CBC, the first case linked to the karaoke joint was reported to local public health authorities on the morning of August 29.
Just a few days later on August 31, Quebec City's Regional Public Health Directorate of the Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre confirmed 17 positive cases related to Bar Kirouac.
At least one employee has tested positive.
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Hundreds of people who were there actually gave fake contact tracing information.