Two businesses in downtown Hillsborough did not open on Friday due to potential COVID-19 exposures to staff.

The Wooden Nickel Public House and the Hillsborough Cup-A-Joe both alerted the community Friday morning about temporary closures.

A Facebook post from the Wooden Nickel’s owners said a staff member recently experienced an exposure to a positive case of COVID-19. As a result, the business on North Churton Street is closing its pub, bake shop and bottle shop to conduct testing and potential contact tracing.

“The health and safety of our staff and their families, and of you our guests, has been priority number one for us throughout the pandemic,” read the message. “Since back in March, the plan has always been for us to shut down our operations in the event of confirmed contact with this virus, however limited the contact or whatever the circumstance. Thankfully, we have not had reason to do this up to now.”

Additionally, the coffee shop Cup-A-Joe on West King Street shared a similar message on its Facebook page.

“We were recently informed that a member of our team was exposed to [the coronavirus,]” wrote ownership. “We will be shut down until all our staff and [we] are tested and their results show up negative.”

Friday’s announcement mark the second and third abrupt closure in Hillsborough caused by contact tracing efforts this week. The Hot Tin Roof Bar on West Margaret Lane announced Wednesday it was closing and postponing a scheduled private event due to a team member also being notified of an exposure to the coronavirus.

Hillsborough Mayor Jenn Weaver told Chapelboro while closing over a busy holiday weekend must be challenging, she believes the decision to close in such scenarios is the correct one.

“I am incredibly grateful that each of these businesses acted so promptly to protect their staff and the greater community,” said Weaver. “This is the type of leadership we are so proud of in our local business community, and is the type of action that is essential for preventing  some of the worst of the virus spread we are seeing elsewhere.”

Photo via Google Earth

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