Those who rang in the New Year at a popular Italian restaurant in Kitsilano may have been exposed to COVID-19 during their visit, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) warns.
The health authority on Friday, Jan. 15 added Nook's Kits location to its current public exposures list. According to VCH, the potential exposure took place at the 1525 Yew Street eatery during its opening hours on Dec. 31.
While public health officials say the potential exposure event is believed to be low risk, VCH asks anyone who visited Nook during the specified times to self-monitor for symptoms of the coronavirus—despite the fact that this particular exposure event would have taken place more than two weeks ago, meaning the 14-day incubation period associated with the virus has already come to an end. There is no known risk to anyone who attended the restaurant outside of the specified date and times.
The heath agency's public exposure notification comes the same day that Nook plans to reopen the doors to its Kitsilano location, after three of its staff members tested positive for the virus. The local chain, which also boasts locations in North Vancouver, the West End and Olympic Village, opted to close its Yew Street restaurant for both dine-in and take-out following the positive test results.
"[I]n the interests of protecting our staff and guests as well as mitigating any spread, we have decided to close the restaurant until we are certain that we con re-open safely," Nook shared in an Instagram post earlier this week. "We wish them a speedy recovery and hope that you are all staying safe."
As VCH explains, the symptoms of COVID-19 may include, among others, fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste and/or smell, and/or diarrhea.
If those who visited a location flagged for possible COVID-19 exposure remain healthy and do not develop any of the above-mentioned symptoms, there is no need to self-isolate, and those individuals can continue with their usual daily activities.
If one does develop any symptoms related to COVID-19, however mild, those individuals are advised to call their family doctor or 8-1-1, seek testing and immediately self-isolate.
VCH's public health team only issues public exposure alerts if contact tracers have determined that there was a risk of public exposure and if officals are unable to contact everyone who may have been exposed.
