The Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena has announced it has closed it’s doors until the new year after a member of staff contracted COVID-19.
In a statement General Manager Roland Bailie said:
“It is with regret that we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the hotel until the New Year.
“We have been informed that a member of the team has tested positive for COVID-19.
“This team member has not been on the premises since re-opening but did attend the Adair Arms Management Meeting prior to the hotel opening on 11 December.
“Track and Trace have just informed us that anyone at the meeting must now self-isolate.
“Just to reassure you all – at the pre-opening meeting social distancing was observed and everyone wore masks.
“Presently NO member of the Operations team or extended team are showing any symptoms of COVID-19.
“However we have a duty of care and take the health and safety of our teams and customers very seriously and therefore are taking the precautionary step to close the hotel temporarily. As it is so close to Christmas we have decided to extend this to the New Year.
“We want to again reassure our customers who have been in supporting us over the last few days that none of our team are currently showing any symptoms and this is purely precautionary measure to protect the guests, employees and local community.
“We are living through a difficult time and we all must do our bit to try and beat this virus as quickly as possible and protect the health of our communities.
“If you have a booking with us over this time we will be in contact. Please bear with us as we get through these reservations.
“In the meantime we want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a healthy and Happy New Year. We thank you for your continued support and look forward to seeing you all again very soon.”
Spokesperson for McKeever Hotels Ltd, Bridgene Keeley, told Love Ballymena:
“We can clarify that we have taken the decision to close the Adair Arms Hotel temporarily.
“This is a hotel decision and to be clear we have not been told to close by any authority.
“There has been no outbreak at the hotel but members of the team have been contacted by Track & Trace to self isolate.
“As it is so close to Christmas we want to ensure the safety of our teams, customers and community – therefore in light of this we have taken the precautionary step to close the hotel.”