KITCHENER -- Region of Waterloo Public Health officials are warning the public after nearly 200 people were possibly exposed to COVID-19 at Algarve Restaurant in Kitchener, Ont.
According to a news release, about 175 people may have been exposed to the disease at the restaurant, which is located at 248 Stirling Ave. S. So far, public health officials have reported six laboratory-confirmed cases that have been linked to the restaurant.
A COVID-19 contact notification was issued on Nov. 9 for anyone who went to the restaurant between Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. Public health officials said they have not identified risk to anyone who attended the restaurant outside of those dates.
"There is evidence that a series of settings are connected where COVID-19 spread from a social gathering, to the restaurant, and other settings," public health officials said in a news release.
"Public Health has identified and contacted high risk contacts in these other settings."
Officials said that those who attended the restaurant between Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 should self-monitor for symptoms and seek testing.
On Tuesday, the Ventura family, which runs the restaurant provided CTV Kitchener with a statement.
"Today the restaurant is being sanitized. We are very concerned for all those impacted by this," it said in part.
"We have done everything by the book to help us get through this pandemic. We at Algarve think of our patrons as family. We hope and pray for the well-being of all our customers and their families."
Dr. Ryan Van Meer, acting Associate Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Waterloo, said the number of contacts is based on information provided by the restaurant.
"What we often see with outbreaks is that transmission may initially occur in private, social settings and then continue in workplace and other settings," Dr. Van Meer's statement said in part. "In this case we have seen additional related cases, outside of the restaurant, connected to a social gathering. We have identified and contacted high-risk contacts in the social gathering."
The restaurant has reportedly been cooperative with public health officials and has voluntarily closed for the time being.
"Closed till further notice," a sign on the restaurant's front door read on Monday afternoon.
The notice comes after Region of Waterloo Public Health declared an outbreak at a food and beverage setting where six cases were linked to it. Public health officials confirmed Monday that the outbreak was declared at Algarve Restaurant.
There were 40 more cases of COVID-19 reported in the region on Monday, bringing the region's total number of cases to 2,392.
