Scarborough South State Beach snack bar shut down after worker tests positive for COVID-19

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. (WLNE): The snack bar at Scarborough South State Beach in Narragansett has been closed after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus.

According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM). the vendor that runs food concessions at state beaches notified DEM about the positive test result at 1:30 p.m on Saturday and called the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) for guidance.

The employee testing positive last worked at the snack bar on July 24. Because of health-care confidentiality laws, DEM will not release the employee’s name, gender, age, or hometown.

“A lot of people could have gotten it from just that one person,” said Exondia Peterson of East Providence. “They could have touched the showers, could have touched the toilets, everything… the foods, the drinks.”

Beachgoers Sunday were nervous after hearing the news. Some had stopped by the snack stand last week while the employee was working.

“A little scary because we had gone to the snack bar during the week for the first time ever, and to hear that there was ramifications was kind of a little unsettling. I got a Gatorade, which, after I was thinking about it, did the kid touch the Gatorade bottle? And did I sanitize my hands afterwards? I don’t think I did,” said Robert Carroll of Providence.

RIDOH closed Scarborough South State Beach from July 21 until July 23 because of high bacteria levels. The beach reopened July 24.

RIDOH is investigating and will conduct contact tracing. The snack bar has plexiglass shields at the point of purchase and follows all CDC and RIDOH protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 including employees wearing face masks and daily cleaning and disinfecting. The concession stand will remain closed until DEM has deep cleaned and disinfected it.

© WLNE-TV 2020