Update – 11:30 a.m. June 16, 2020: In a phone call with The George-Anne, William Bridwell, partner of The Blue Room, said that they are and have been taking precautions he says are, “As serious as you can get.”

“We will not open our doors unless we have absolute confidence that it’s a safe [and] healthy environment for people to step foot in,” Bridwell added. “We would never do anything to put anyone in harms way in any way shape or form.”

STATESBORO — In a post on their Instagram page, The Blue Room announced Monday that they will be closed after one of their employees tested positive for COVID-19.

“We are taking precaution by closing until all staff [receive] a negative test result,” Blue Room said in a statement. “The employee who tested positive last worked on June 5th & has not entered the facility since.”

Their full statement can be found below. 

It is unclear if any patrons have caught the virus following this announcement.

This announcement comes just 15 days after Governor Brian Kemp allowed all bars to reopen. Blue Room reopened on June 2, the day after Kemp’s order.

The George-Anne reached out to Blue Room on Instagram. We have not yet heard back.

“Upon reopening, we will be hyper-focused on checking each person’s temperature & condition prior to entering the building,” Blue Room said. “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we want to ensure both our patrons’ & employees’ safety during this unprecedented time.”

It is unclear when Blue Room will reopen again.

At last check, Georgia has 58,414 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 2,414 deaths from the virus. 

Bulloch county has 108 cases and three deaths.

This is an active story. The George-Anne will continue to monitor the situation.

Andy Cole, Managing Editor for News Coverage, bc14713@georgiasouthern.edu