Coronavirus outbreak among In-N-Out Burger employees in Colorado grows to over 120 cases
The two locations opened in Colorado last month
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An outbreak of COVID-19 among employees at two In-N-Out Burger locations in Colorado has grown to 122 cases.
Last week, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) reported on 80 confirmed cases of coronavirus among workers at restaurants in Aurora and Colorado Springs, along with 25 other potentially infected. This Wednesday, however, officials posted an update confirming 42 cases among employees at the Aurora location, and 80 at the Colorado Springs location.
Colorado's Department of Public Health & Environment confirmed 122 cases of coronavirus among employees at the state's two locations (not pictured). (iStock)
As of Wednesday, CDPHE’s data shows no reported deaths, and no reported cases among customers traced back to either location.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}PREGNANT MCDONALD'S WORKER GETS DONATIONS AFTER CUSTOMER THROWS DRINK IN HER FACE
When the CDPHE first reported the outbreak last week, Denny Warnick, In-N-Out’s vice president of operations, said the affected employees and those who had contact with them "have been excluded from the workplace."
"Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers and associates. We are committed to doing our part in preventing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus," Warnick said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our associates and we are hopeful for quick recoveries for each of those affected."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}When the outbreak was first reported at the Colorado locations (not pictured), Denny Warnick, In-N-Out’s vice president of operations, said the affected employees and those who had contact with them "have been excluded from the workplace." (iStock)
In-N-Out also confirmed it would be working with public health agencies to take the "appropriate" next steps.
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Shortly after news broke of the additional cases, Warnick released another statement, promising to "remain committed to doing our part" to prevent the spread of the virus.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"While state reporting of COVID-19 cases is subject to a delay while data is compiled, at the present time we are experiencing a substantial improvement in the number of our Associates testing positive for COVID-19 at both of our Colorado locations. However, we are concerned when any member of our Associate family is affected and we will continue to take action to keep our teams as safe as possible," wrote Warnick in a statement shared with Fox News.
"We continue to work closely with our public health agencies to review and confirm that the proactive steps we are taking are appropriate and effective in protecting our communities. Some of those precautions include limiting staff to the minimum necessary number, using staff 'cohorts' to limit possible exposure, and limiting dining room access to takeout orders only to ensure appropriate physical distancing. If an Associate does test positive, we take immediate steps to identify, and exclude from work, anyone that may have been in close contact with the individual."
A representative for In-N-Out declined to comment on whether the Colorado restaurants would remain open.
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Colorado's In-N-Out locations — the first two in the state — opened last month to scores of curious customers, some of whom waited in line for 14 hours to taste the burger joint’s offerings. Local police had been dispatched to help control traffic, as well as at least one brawl that broke out in the drive-thru.
In-N-Out currently has plans to open seven more locations in Colorado in the future.
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Colorado, meanwhile, had reported 330,859 cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday, with 4,750 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Fox News' Cortney Moore contributed to this report.