Staff member at Duke’s on Alki tests positive for COVID-19

Another local business confirms an employee has tested positive for COVID-19. This time, it’s Duke’s on Alki. The restaurant posted this on social media tonight:

The restaurant was open tonight; an employee who contacted us about the situation says the cleaning was done on Thursday and that employees were notified that day.

84 Replies to "Staff member at Duke's on Alki tests positive for COVID-19"

  • Wsguy123 June 27, 2020 (10:59 pm)

    I saw the outside seating full at Duke’s on Thursday night as I drove by around 7:30. Maybe I’m wrong but I thought seating  outside could only be half full and tables still had to be 6 feet apart under phase 2. None of that was happening at Duke’s and other restaurants.

    • Duffy June 27, 2020 (11:22 pm)

      I understand businesses are struggling right now, but yes, unfortunately Alki right now is not a beacon of how we need to be battling this pandemic. Bars are packed, outside seating is clearly not arranged to keep people at safe distances, and the beaches are the beaches. This is extremely challenging for everyone, I am sensitive to that, but we all need to use our brains or this is going to get out of control.

      • JES June 28, 2020 (7:39 am)

        Dukes especially! It’s been packed every time I’ve been by.

    • Pelicans June 28, 2020 (3:36 am)

      Jeez Louise, I feel for Alki and WS   store owners. But maybe we should pull back a little. I’d  be more than willing to patronize our peninsula businesses with curb-pick up. Let’s do that!

  • Jamie June 27, 2020 (11:59 pm)

    I think it’s way to early for us to allow dining (inside of outside) at restaurants. More people will get infected and some will die as a result of these exposures. If we’re going to continue to allow this, we really should collect verifiable contact information from anyone dining at a restaurant in order to facilitate contact tracing.Do restaurants need to disclose these occurrences? If so, how many days do they have to notify King County Health before they are in violation? My understanding is that the North Admiral Starbucks didn’t announce the reason for their recent closure.

    • Joel June 28, 2020 (1:08 am)

      why not collect contact information from everyone at grocery stores…home depot..target…costco….the post office….etc?  

      • CAM June 28, 2020 (6:11 am)

        Because you aren’t spending over an hour in any of those places unmasked. 

      • This June 28, 2020 (7:09 am)

        The difference between going to a restaurant and going to a store to shop is the length of time spent sitting (congregating) around other people, while drinking and eating, and not wearing a mask. You are also repeatedly coming into contact with the wait staff.

        There is thought to be less risk in a store where you are wearing a mask, continuously moving, keeping social distance, only encountering the cashier once, and hopefully spending less overall time.

        Cases are spiking around the country and this is thought to be due to people congregating around the Memorial Day holiday, as well as due to places like restaurants opening too soon and people not taking good precautions in general (masks, social distancing, hand washing). It is not simply due to the increase in testing, this has been analyzed, and determined that cases are still on the rise because transmission has increased.

      • Also John June 28, 2020 (7:31 am)

        @Joel…..  I like that.  We should do that too.  I’d rather not see anyone going to those places.  Make a monthly visit for food and stay home.  Simple as that, but Americans only think of themselves.

      • pilsner June 28, 2020 (7:37 am)

        RFID chips would be the best solution. Scan people before they enter a business. That would be the most accurate way to track the virus. It could also transmit the the body temp, to help prevent sick people from entering in the first place.

        • zark00 June 28, 2020 (3:31 pm)

          RFID chips cannot detect and transmit body temp without an additional sensor, which requires a larger power source, and some kind of rudimentary processor and storage scheme to package the data for transmission over RF.  Just letting you know since really paranoid conspiracy wackos and ill-informed people think RFID chops can do all sorts of things they can’t do.

          • pilsner June 28, 2020 (7:01 pm)

            Roger that, im just thinking of ways to streamline the new norm. People get beauty implants all over their body. “Temperature sending unit 50% off with lip injections” lol

      • heartless June 28, 2020 (7:42 am)

        Joel:
        Just off the top of my head, three big reasons why restaurants are different than all the other places you listed.
        1) People keep their masks on at stores, the post office, etc., drastically lowering the chance of getting others sick.

        2) Length of exposure matters–in restaurant situations people are around others for much longer, rather than zipping in and out like at a store.  This longer exposure plus no masks while eating is a big deal that makes restaurants uniquely suited to spreading the virus.

        3) If people are already sitting down waiting for a meal it’s trivial to have them provide contact information.  They can just write it down at the table while waiting–much harder to collect this information from people wandering through stores–for example if you do it at the entrance you might create a crowded backlog of people waiting to enter, which is something to be avoided.

      • Lagartija Nick June 28, 2020 (7:48 am)

        Do you really not see the difference between going to any of those places with a mask on and sitting in an enclosed space without a mask while eating, drinking and socializing?

      • J June 28, 2020 (9:03 am)

        Because people must remove their masks to eat and drink. That greatly increases everyone’s danger.

      • newnative June 28, 2020 (9:10 am)

        Joel, are you taking “contact” out of context on purpose? Close contact means within 6 feet for more than a few minutes. In the case of restaurants, it may also include breathing recirculated air.  Presumably, at the grocery stores et al, you’re wearing a mask and only having to quickly pass by people and not standing next to them for 10 minutes. Eating in a restaurant is different. The past few months with no-contact take out and delivery service seemed to work really well. I did visit a restaurant last week but it was stressful and I decided that I’m not ready to do that on a regular basis. And they followed all the protocols. 

      • Emy June 28, 2020 (10:17 am)

        Yeah why not just become more like mainland China and create a social credit system?

      • Duke McCabe June 28, 2020 (10:18 am)

        Joel makes a solidly cogent point. I believe he’s right on and “why not” collect data from all in close retail environments?

      • Common sense June 28, 2020 (10:26 am)

        Joel, when was the last time you stayed in one place for 15 minutes at a grocery store for long and were face to face with someone or you ate from a plate or used a cup and silverware that were laying flat collecting spit droplets.   Let take the science out and use basic principles simpletons like yourself might better understand.come on people- its not a life or liberty thing.  If you enjoy what we have here and all your liberties follow health guidance for the time needed and then you can get back to serving just yourself in your life endeavors?  Would you pay the medical bills of someone your infected accidentally or not, I doubt it.  Would you be happy if you made your mother, father, wife, husband or someone close deathly sick because you wanted to demonstrate your “liberty” to defy common sense?  I have a blanket you can borrow to wrap up in (might have small pox(sarcasm)) then you dont have to cover your face for an inconvenient 10 minutes 😷As a healthcare provider, prior military, and pro freedom person let me say- get over yourself.

      • CC June 28, 2020 (10:35 am)

        Comparing dining at a restaurant versus shopping is apples and oranges for exposure risk. At a restaurant, people have longer stays, fixed seating, talking (sometimes loud—think droplets). 

        • Beepee June 28, 2020 (12:08 pm)

          I would say that places like grocery stores serve people in the upwards of hundreds or thousands while restaurants serve much less, still something to think about 

      • john June 28, 2020 (10:46 am)

        JOEL, you list businesses that are deemed essential.  These businesses differ in that they do not encourage or allow close confined contact over an extended period of time.  The risk factor of shopping for groceries and sitting in close proximity without masks for an hour  in a restaurant are completely different.   I hope you are being disingenous and  provocative rather than serious?

        • Joel June 28, 2020 (9:09 pm)

          interesting responses to my comment…..Inslee is certainly a guy who says he follows science….if that is the case why did he go back on his requirement for restaurants to maintain a customer list?The CDC and WHO come out with new info weekly…..sometimes this weeks info contradicting last weeks info….even the experts don’t know enough about this to give clear guidance.I go the the Westwood Post Office daily due to having a PO Box and an online mail order business….I have never seen anyone clean/sanitize the self serve postage machine….the various counters around post office…never see those being wiped down….how about the door to get into the post office?Produce isle at any grocery store….who doesn’t man handle the avocados to see if they are too firm…who doesn’t look at the apples for soft spots….oh and that head of romaine….did the person who just touched the first 6 heads to get to the one in the back…how do you know they didn’t just sneeze before selecting their head of lettuce…..Sorry but I’d rather have a meal at a restaurant – knowing the table was just sanitized and that the employees are following required protocol.

          • KM June 28, 2020 (10:47 pm)

            Do restaurant employees not touch food they serve? Just grocery store shoppers, I guess. Cooks are also incapable of sneezing—it’s biology.

          • Carey June 29, 2020 (6:13 am)

            I assume you’re washing you hands after going to the post office?

    • Heshee June 28, 2020 (8:25 am)

      I totally agree. Going to a restaurant is not in any way essential during a pandemic. Any activity that is done without masks and numerous people (dining at a restaurant) is really risky. It’s a shame that the contact tracing requirement was scrapped for restaurants. 

    • LB June 28, 2020 (10:22 am)

      Agree completely with you, Jamie.  

    • Jamie June 28, 2020 (3:07 pm)

      So it appears that businesses, including restaurants, do not need to publicly disclose cases where employees have been exposed to or are confirmed to have COVID-19. In fact, the   state guidance only points out the need to preserve confidentiality following ADA guidance. We have public signs on restaurants when other health issues related to food safety are detected. Should we do the same for COVID-19? Something like “this business has/hasn’t had any cases of COVID-19 in the past 30/60/90 days.”

    • Julie June 28, 2020 (4:48 pm)

      The King County Department of Public Health epidemiology team does collect data on employment, they have no documents on COVID-19 positive employee(s). The Environmental Health team who are responsible for the safety and health within food facilities (restaurants/grocery stores, etc.) also possess no records. The only significant amount of data available online is here: https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19/data.aspx

  • 22blades June 28, 2020 (7:52 am)

    The more I see of this kind of unchecked behavior, the less I frequent establishments. Proprietors: please have your staff be more proactive in ensuring social distancing. Take a moment to look up from the till & ask folks to stand on the marks you made the effort to put up. Please, don’t be THAT business!

  • barbara s spector June 28, 2020 (8:04 am)

    I think we need to go back to phase 1, or we will be on fire with this disease by fall.

    • Delridge Resident June 28, 2020 (12:41 pm)

      Agreed. New daily cases are at the levels they were in mid/late April. Since there’s a lag in known cases, it’s almost certainly higher. It also appears people aren’t taking the mandatory mask order seriously, nor does there seem to be a plan to enforce it. If people continue to flout the order and cases continue to rise, I hope order is soon enforced and that individuals are fined or businesses lose their license.

  • BLM June 28, 2020 (8:16 am)

    Covid is out there. If you are terrified of getting it stay home! The people that are out living, eating out, going to the store ect let them be. Hopefully they are wearing masks and staying home if they are sick. That’s all we can do people. We can’t live inside forever!

    • zark00 June 28, 2020 (3:38 pm)

      Terrible message.  That’s not all we can do – we can wear masks, not eat out at restaurants until it’s safer, or really anything that shows you care, at all, about your fellow human beings. Anyone with any semblance of a conscience understands that the tiny inconvenience of wearing a piece of cloth on their face pales in comparison to contributing to the spread of a disease that kills grandparents.  You should be ashamed of yourself.

  • Awareness in West Seattle June 28, 2020 (9:56 am)

    Is it true that this week the Admiral Starbuck’s had a “closed” sign on the door, with no reason stated?  From Nextdoor Neighbor I understand that, when contacted, Starbuck’s corporate admitted that Admiral Starbuck’s servers had tested positive for COVID, but that Starbuck’s provided no notification or statement on any social media?

    • WSB June 28, 2020 (9:59 am)

      Hope that post wasn’t from someone summarizing us without attribution. On Thursday, after several readers contacted us asking why the newly remodeled Admiral Starbucks was closed, with no explanation on the sign, we contacted Starbucks’ media relations and they replied that it was because of a COVID case. https://westseattleblog.com/2020/06/admiral-starbuck…ive-for-covid-19/

  • Rick June 28, 2020 (10:09 am)

    Mandatory chips in wrist just around the corner.

  • M June 28, 2020 (10:12 am)

    It is unclear if the employee worked while sick.  We ate there, outdoors, on Tuesday. Do we know if the employee was working that day?

    • Lynn June 28, 2020 (12:45 pm)

      Yikes. You must be nervous now. I would just test out of precaution. Better to know, rule it out and that way avoid infecting others.

      • M June 28, 2020 (6:27 pm)

        I called the restaurant. The person wasn’t working until long after we left.  We ate outside too.  I am less worried now.  I have decided that I will continue to do take out at restaurants versus eating in. I appreciate Dukes letting WSB know.  I place a high value when a business is totally transparent.

        • WSB June 28, 2020 (7:22 pm)

          Just to be clear, they didn’t let us know. We heard from an anonymous employee and had been working to verify. Before we reached anyone, a reader emailed to point out that Duke’s had posted a statement on social media. My bad for checking their website but not their s/m or we would have published something an hour or so earlier than we did. As Jamie points out upthread, businesses are NOT required to notify customers, so they all have different policies/practices. Ours is to verify before publishing. – TR

    • Anonymous June 30, 2020 (12:47 pm)

      i have someone close to me who works there. Their “deep clean” was an hour and a half closure. A staff member who worked with the girl who tested positive was allowed to continue working. If you call them they are doing damage control at this point. I know for a fact 2 people who work there are getting tested today and are both showing symptoms of coronavirus. Management was livid when both of them requested time off to get tested/quarantine. Im blown away by the general lack of foresight to protect their community and to put the lives of their guests and staff memebers in jeopardy. 

  • WaitWHAT June 28, 2020 (10:18 am)

    Wait….WHAT?The SECOND business? What was the first business? 

    • WSB June 28, 2020 (11:01 am)

      We reported Thursday on the Admiral Starbucks case.
      https://westseattleblog.com/2020/06/admiral-starbuck…ive-for-covid-19/

      • Jamie June 28, 2020 (12:37 pm)

        I get a 404 when I click on this link. Is the Admiral Starbucks COVID-19 article still live?

        • WSB June 28, 2020 (12:53 pm)

          That is bizarre. Hang on, let me see what happened.
          (Added) The comment software collapsed the URL (note the ellipses) but the story is very much still there, where it’s been since we published it Thursday. Click here.

          • WaitWhat June 28, 2020 (4:24 pm)

            Thank you – I totally missed this report!

  • WereSTILLInAPandemic June 28, 2020 (12:27 pm)

    Hi there!one legitimate question— Duke and John, if you are so concerned about your employees’ and general community’s safety, why, when you reopened, were the outside diners AT EVERY TABLE, SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, NO DISTANCING in place???? Do better or stay closed. (yes, we walk Alki every. Single. Day. Btw, so this is not speculation or slander)

  • HS June 28, 2020 (1:04 pm)

    I think this may be how it is for us until we have a vaccine – testing at work, fast & flexible closures and contact quarantine. I do think it’s interesting how the two businesses responded differently. Starbucks, closure letter on the front door, didn’t disclose covid until, at the request of customers, a local news outlet inquired directly. I think they’re still closed. Dukes, posted covid closure notice on the front door and issued a social media press release (targeting their local customers) with very clear follow-up sanitization and directly addressed quarantining employees. They’ve reopened. They’re different businesses but one approach seems to have worked better. Now the question is will people feel safe to return after a closure? As much as I value my personal information, even here in this comment thread, you can read people’s concern and confusion. Did I come in direct contact? Should I be getting tested? It may be that leaving basic contact info at “mask removing” establishments, and that we all begin to follow online places we patronize.

    • Guy June 28, 2020 (2:01 pm)

      Duke’s didn’t notify anyone, it wasn’t until yesterday that they made a statement. The employee was sick on Thursday…..

  • TJ June 28, 2020 (1:32 pm)

    New cases may be back to where they were in April, but the updated King County statistics posted daily on here show deaths at 0-3 a day, far less than in April. Hospitalizations are way down. Far more people are getting tested now, showing what many people have thought, that way more people had it 3-4 months ago but weren’t tested. Asymptomatic or minor symptoms. OR, is the virus weakening, like some scientists are saying now? I’ll keep my civil liberties now, and if people aren’t comfortable with how restaurants are running then you can stay away or even get take out. 

  • Juju June 28, 2020 (3:35 pm)

    Rather than participating in the breathless hysteria of mass media let’s consider a few pieces of information.

    1. 10s of thousands of people die every year from the seasonal flu. This generally goes unreported and certainly none of you have ever shown much worry about this. Though you should as we all age and our immune systems weaken and become more susceptible to all sorts of ailments that take us a bit quicker down the path to death’s doorstep.

    2. Community level serology surveys conducted by the CDC in partnership with independent labs indicate that death rates are likely much lower than previously thought. Work in progress, of course. The point is… turn off your idiot box and do some research into the facts. One can find the CDC information here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/community-level-seroprevalence-surveys.html

    3. Enough with the mask-shaming, finger-pointing, and holier-than-thou nonsense. Not one of you who practice this behavior wear a mask in public places during flu season. Worry about yourself. Set a good example, wear your mask, social distance, and be mindful of others.

    4. As TJ points out above, don’t want to eat at a specific restaurant, for whatever reason, don’t. Pretty simple.

    5. THE VIRUS IS NEVER GOING TO GO AWAY. NEVER. Just like the measles. Sure if one has been vaccinated one is generally not at risk, but we know that those who choose not to vaccinate are at risk of getting the measles. We have a recent history of this.

    6. Finally, don’t underestimate human ingenuity. We keep figuring stuff out. We’re the worst virus on the planet

    • heartless June 28, 2020 (5:20 pm)

      I’m having trouble trying to find a point to your post.

      Are you really just annoyed that people are taking this more seriously than you are?

      I don’t watch television, so maybe I’m just missing the “breathless hysteria of mass media” that you reference, but at least in these forums it seems like the most hysterical thing people are saying is please do small things to keep our community safe.  Which is of course absolutely sensible.

      ps
      The whataboutism regarding the flu has got to stop–it’s tired and pointless.

      • Will June 28, 2020 (9:23 pm)

        You’re hysterical heartless. Hysterical. 

        • heartless June 29, 2020 (7:58 am)

          Sorry, who are you?  And what are you adding to the conversation?

    • Stone Buddha June 28, 2020 (8:12 pm)

      1. 62,000 people died of the flu for a similar duration of time (approx. 7 mos.) as Covid has been active. This is an under-reporting, but so are current Covid deaths, which were at more than 128k in late June. (Source: John’s Hopkins)2. The link shared does not show results. Anecdotal statements from the CDC regarding deaths in New York alludes to the potential of under reporting. (Source: CDC)3. With the flu, there is less a need to wear a mask, as prophylaxis is aided by vaccines that are widely available and distributed. Note the flu is not one virus, it is several. The flu vaccine, however, is relatively effective given the number of strains. That being said, people should be washing hands and self-quarantining if they have the flu. (Source: CDC) 4. I agree.5. Measles is vaccine preventable. It is also much more contagious than Covid, and is deadly to a much younger demographic: most who die are in the single digits. Vaccines save lives, and choosing to not participate is a way more egregious violation of the social contract than not wearing a mask, in my opinion. (Source: CDCNature)6. Our collective ingenuity (sourced not from the media, but from literally some the most intelligent, educated, and accomplished people in the world) says to cover your face with a cloth when in public, presumably until we have a vaccine. (Source: CDC) Note: I’ve sourced the CDC as much as possible, as it was the sole source provided by OP, and presumably credible to them.My opinion: Be kind, play by the rules, don’t make a medical issue into a socially devisive contrivance. It’s a piece of cloth, and some personal space; something we as Americans prize  (Source: State.gov). 

    • K June 28, 2020 (9:02 pm)

      Juju, the problem with one of your main arguments is that our current situation requires mutual cooperation and responsibility. Your actions affect me, and conversely my actions affect you. I’m relieved to see that you encourage others to responsibly wear their masks and socially distance. However, keep in mind that worrying about oneself actually does require expressing concern when other people choose to act irresponsibly. 

  • NoNames June 28, 2020 (5:27 pm)

    Anybody in favor of RFID chips is a joke. 

  • Westsider June 28, 2020 (5:57 pm)

    In the past, I can remember a couple of occasions where customers accidentally spit on me while I was talking to them while working. Yes, this was before the COVID 19 Crisis and yes it was a restaurant. There is a larger chance of transmission in a packed restaurant. It’s up to EVERYONE to keep themselves and each other safe. 

  • JGreene June 28, 2020 (6:06 pm)

    Does anybody have additional info on the social media rumors about the West Seattle Trader Joe’s having an employee test positive for COVID-19 in the last few days? Link: Only a rumor until verified

    • WSB June 29, 2020 (4:45 pm)

      We were just able to confirm that – we received a weekend tip but couldn’t reach a company spokesperson until today.

  • All the way June 28, 2020 (6:55 pm)

    LOVE Juju’s comment!! It’s the BEST!! So true!!

  • Virgo June 28, 2020 (7:08 pm)

    The timeline and does not fit here. The entire restaurant should have been shut down until every employee was tested. How can we know if other employees aren’t carrying it?

    • LG June 28, 2020 (7:49 pm)

      You will never know. You can get tested, test negative (ignoring accuracy rates), and then a few days later get it. This is why wearing masks is so important. 

    • Will June 28, 2020 (9:20 pm)

      Thank you JuJu!  Finally Someone with sense speaks.  I absolutely agree with everything you said and I really wish others would listen to reason and start to think things through.  The knee  jerk shaming and utter nonsense combined with all out panic.  Panic never ever helps in any situation.  Ever. Seriously, thanks. 

  • Tuwanda June 28, 2020 (7:43 pm)

    Thank you Juju.The flu virus is here and it’s always been here. How long will you wear that mask for? The media is counting deaths but never before 2020 and it’s spreading fear. Do whatever you have to do to feel safe but I’m thinking It’s a good time to go eat at Dukes! Btw. If you get your food to go, you are still at risk. 

    • heartless June 28, 2020 (8:24 pm)

      I’m just flabbergasted at the number of people who seem really mad that others are wearing masks.

      To answer your question: I’ll wear a mask as long as I goddamn feel it keeps my neighbors from dying.

    • Stone Buddha June 28, 2020 (8:54 pm)

      As mentioned, the flu is not a single virus, and, in my opinion, it would be a huge win to bring Covid under the controls we have in place for the several flu strains that can trigger symptoms, noting that Covid is more dangerous than any usual flu strain. The risk is greater than 0 when getting takeout, but not nearly as high as sitting in an enclosed space with one or more infected people. Also, research is showing that transmission via surfaces is not a primary factor in Covid spread.This is not a time for paranoia, but it is one for prudence. For me, I am always carrying a mask, and will put it on if I will come within 6 feet of someone, and I will wear it full time in public buildings. I lean right of center, and have a history in the trades (not a radical lefty). To me, this is just part of being in this community, and is literally the least someone can do.

  • Business owner June 28, 2020 (8:52 pm)

    Not to negate anyone’s post…just putting it out there that it isn’t ALL about your local businesses…i.e being open, masked or unmasked etc. etc…I recently talked with a woman who came down with the virus and the doctors couldn’t understand why and when this could happen.  The day the lock-down happened, she never left her apartment (being 63, she was of course apprehensive).  She had food delivered etc.  The medical staff was trumped (not going political people, so don’t start).  When she mentioned that the only time she left her apartment was to take out garbage/recycling and grab mail…via the apartment elevator, the doctor only could deduce that she encountered the virus there.  She was completely honest and adamant that she only touched the buttons with a sanitized tissue (she, again, was very careful and followed ALL protocols)… and the doctor told her that the virus can linger for up to 15 minutes in an enclosed space.  NOW- the only reason I am mentioning this at all (she has recovered, though it was agonizing), is that the comments on this blog are soooo quick to blame businesses, and not seeing that it can happen “anywhere”…no matter how much you do to protect yourself based on CDC recommendation.  We just all have to know that being safe, taking precautions, and whatever…it can still happen.  It sucks, but this woman mentioned that the mere fact that she took care of herself, was healthy, had a very caring and helpful community, was what got her through.  It saddens me to read the posts blaming businesses (who are doing EVERYTHING to be safe and stay afloat…never mind the optics and releasing information to stay ahead of rumors), just fuels the blame by those who need a culprit.  We don’t know the stories, what they are going through, how they got it, etc…but one thing I learned, from this amazing woman, is that the help she received, and the support she had, is what truly helped her and anyone that contracts the virus.  It’s out there, it can happen to anyone…be safe, and don’t be so quick to pass judgments on businesses.  Community is what makes us human.  Stay safe!

    • Stone Buddha June 28, 2020 (9:47 pm)

      I think that’s the point: it can happen anywhere, so we need protections (of some kind) everywhere. The challenge is when businesses and customers choose to ignore prudence and counsel. Individuals may not care, but some (including me) argue that businesses have a responsibility to their customers and community. I’d also argue that goes beyond Covid. But for Covid, there’s now literally a playbook. It is a business decision to not follow the guidance. That’s a problem.

      • Restaurant Worker June 28, 2020 (11:41 pm)

        Businesses and the community also have a responsibility to the safety of the workers. Please don’t forget about us.

  • Restaurant Worker June 28, 2020 (10:47 pm)

    I agree with your point that the reality is that the risk of exposure is much larger than just in our local businesses- and I love your community minded spirit, but I disagree with suggesting that businesses are doing everything to be safe. A great many are, that is for sure- but not all are. As many people have pointed out, Duke’s has had a packed patio that appears to not have distanced seating, despite the  Phase 2 reopening requirements specifically stating that patios can only have 50% capacity and table must be six feet apart (I believe this distance is in all directions from a chair being occupied). I don’t work there, so I can’t attest to what they are doing. I do know that the restaurant where I do work seems uninterested in enforcing most of the Phase 2 requirements. In addition to this putting the community at risk, it is an unsafe work environment (which it already is dubious that we are required to work around unmasked people for long periods of time without proper protective equiptment), and my life should matter too. I am glad you are doing everything you can to have a safe environment and are doing your best to keep your employees safe (and I can only imagine the losses you have sustained during all of this are impossible)…but hopefully you can understand that it really is not okay for any place of business that is designed for members of the public to linger unmasked in a social setting not to be following the requirements set forth to try to get our economy afloat.

  • Steve June 28, 2020 (10:52 pm)

    Wow putting a business on blast like this WSB? Hope they are not a sponsor.

    • WSB June 28, 2020 (11:22 pm)

      “Blast”? We’re reporting news. As we did with the Starbucks Admiral case. And the Providence Mount St. Vincent cases. And the Bridge Park cases. And the South Seattle College case. – TR

    • miws June 29, 2020 (9:28 am)

      What the hell are you talking about, Steve? WSB is doing their job–reporting the news. It would be highly irresponsible, unethical, and a failure of their Journalistic Duty (and they hold themselves to a very high standard of Journalistic Duty), for them to *not* reported something, such as this, once they have confirmed it through a credible source, which WSB did, and always does,  that could affect the community in such a way that a highly-contagious, very dangerous virus can. —Mike

  • Business owner June 29, 2020 (12:27 am)

    Not sure if that last comment was directed towards me.  But- to clarify, I would NEVER “blast” WSB.  This is a forum (that they diligently provide), and I was merely discussing the posts (by readers), that feel this virus is spreading due to being open, at 1/2 capacity, and how restaurants are acting carelessly.  I was merely pointing out that staying home, staying safe, etc… actually did not help my friend who took ALL precautions.  Hate to say it… but this virus is real… it’s just not fair to always blame businesses… whaaa?  We get yelped, called in when someone isn’t  “satisfied”, are NOW in charge of making sure everyone is wearing a mask, not smoking, paying employees (who quit a year ago) unemployment, hearing employees who left, then “begged” to come back, only to hear that they felt they should’ve been paid “hazard pay”… though I can attest and prove, and THANK the regulars who tipped them beyond expected…All while trying to keep the business afloat?  It’s rough out there… I don’t have a social media platform to talk major crap about them.  “I tried to take care of a bank transaction, and can you believe it?  They were rude, and I know probably not wearing pants, and they spittled “droplets” over the phone.  Or unemployment?  My SSN has been compromised and I haven’t gotten any response (probably because they weren’t social distancing), or… were they sanitizing equipment so much that the equipment froze?  Yup- that’s what happens…equipment is not “equipped” for constant sanitation… shuts all those devices down.  What gives?  This virus will be a concern for all, under any circumstances… just because a business has a brick and mortar location, does NOT mean we are the reason for new cases.  It’s just that. And my conclusion from my last post was simple… Pointing fingers, blasting businesses, etc etc. don’t help those who have the virus.  Helping them, not making them scared is huge.  What do I say?  I just got tested that I have the antibodies (yeah yeah, controversial)… all my friends in January and February talk of the same “flu-like” illness.  Another close friend got tested too (in hospital for acl surgery)…yup, he is positive for the antibodies.  I don’t know what to think of that… but my feelings are consistent… Let’s support our community and help “emotionally” in a positive way.  This should not be so harsh, judgmental, divisive, about politics, about science (as an argument, mind you).  To post about who you WONT be patronizing is, well, that…patronizing.   

    • Restaurant Worker June 29, 2020 (8:47 am)

      Restaurant owners ARE acting carelessly. You express zero concern for the safety of your employees, nor for the safety of your community. Yes, we all understand we could get the virus anywhere. I personally choose not to go places where people don’t wear masks. Unfortunately I have to work and my restaurant owner (maybe you?) is choosing not to wear a mask or enforce mask wearing and is also choosing not to enforce other parts of the phase 2 requirements. The economy, as you likely are painfully aware of, is tanked, and jobs are scarce, so I personally don’t have any other opportunities available to support myself right now. It is EVERYONE’S responsibility to mitigate risks, and if you blatantly ignore the most basic instructions of how we as a community can do this, it is to be expected that people will want to know and may choose to patronize businesses that care about their employees and community.

  • This June 29, 2020 (1:09 am)

    Comparing the C19 situation to the flu doesn’t make sense, because we don’t usually shut down practically the entire country during a flu season. The reason we’ve been taking all the precautions and shut everything down was because we quickly learned how contagious and serious this virus is, compared to the flu, and there was no known treatment and no vaccine. There is still much unknown, as this is a novel virus. What we do know is many people are vulnerable to becoming very sick with this virus, possibly with longer term health impacts, and many will die, who would not have from the flu.

    It has been projected that without the stay home orders and all the measures we’ve been taking, possibly millions of Americans would have already died from C19. 

    The virus is still active, it’s been reported that likely 80-90% of the US population hasn’t been exposed yet, and if the transmission isn’t managed and it runs rampant, millions in the US could still die.

    This pandemic is NOT comparable to a flu season.

  • Gary Elbaum June 29, 2020 (11:01 am)

    I rode by Dukes on my bike last week and observed the server upstairs waiting on a party without a mask! Let me be clear…the server was NOT wearing a mask. C’mon Dukes, do better. 

  • Darlene June 29, 2020 (11:51 am)

    I went to dinner there last Tuesday around 6pm, our first outing to a sit down meal in months. When we were first seated they had everyone distanced quite well. But when we left about an hour and a half later every table inside was full, which really surprised us and made us feel very uncomfortable. And then having to make your way home through the crowds on the street, well, sadly,  it’s not likely we’ll return there any time soon. Especially now after hearing of the postive tested employee.

    • flimflam June 29, 2020 (5:13 pm)

      “every table inside full”? wow, if so that is completely disregarding the states rules/directives.

  • Anonymous June 30, 2020 (12:19 pm)

    A second crew member has just tested positive. They closed their doors today. 

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