Armley pub closes for week due to large number of coronavirus cases in area

Graham Fisher, 62, of The Commercial pub in Armley, announced the closure on Facebook.

The infection rate of coronavirus in Leeds up to September 17 was 83.1 per 100,000 people.

Graham - who has been the landlord of the pub for the past four years - said the decision to close the pub for a week had not been taken lightly.

Graham told the Yorkshire Evening Post he wanted to protect the pub's customers and took the decision to close for a deep clean of the premises.

He said he appreciated the support for his decision.

Graham said: "There were lots of reports of the rise in the virus in our area and to protect our customers and ourselves we took the decision to close for seven days and do a deep clean on the premises in line with restrictions.

"All our customers have been excellent on our decision and we really appreciate there help on this matter."

The decision was announced on Saturday (Sep 21).

The Facebook post read: "Due to large number of confirmed covid cases in our area we have taken the decision (not lightĺy) to close for 7days from tonight.

"We hope you all understand our decision to protect everyone...thank you all for your support Graham and Lorraine."

Regular visitors to the pub praised the decision.

One said: "Thank you both, a hard decision but the best one."

Another added: "Good call mate.

"The safety of your customers, staff and yourselves is paramount."

In North Yorkshire, the county's Resilience Forum put out this advice to help control the spread of infections in Yorkshire: "Prevent, contain and reduce the spread of the virus, wherever and however possible.

"Save lives and prevent long-term illness as a consequence of the virus; Keep businesses and schools open;

"Re-inforce personal responsibility: “hands, face, space”; (wash hands, wear a face mask, keep a social distance of at least one metre and preferably two metres apart)

"Protect the NHS;

"Protect care settings and people who are the most frail members of the community;

"Prevent a further, full lockdown if at all possible;

"Take a localised, targeted approach based on risk levels and prevalence of the virus.

"In addition, in the whole of the Scarborough and Selby districts, people are asked to:

"Exercise extra vigilance in maintaining hand hygiene and social distancing.

"Use face coverings when leaving home while circulating infection levels are increasing.

"Avoid large groupings of over 30 people.

"Events organisers to re-think any indoor or outdoor events that involve more than 30 people;

"Take extra care when leaving home if you have an underlying health condition or have been advised to shield"

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Thank you

Laura Collins