Following Lotteria, Hollys too... One store employee at Gubanpo Station tests positive for COVID-19

Closure Immediately Upon Positive Test Notification... No Additional Infections Among Staff

Hollys Coffee is gradually attaching stickers containing rules on tables inside their stores.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Saeng-hye] The fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is spreading to the dining franchise industry. Recently, after several Lotteria branches temporarily closed due to employees being infected with COVID-19, a confirmed case has now emerged at the coffee specialty store Hollys Coffee.

On the 14th, Hollys Coffee announced that on the 12th, it received notification from the Central Disease Control Headquarters that one employee at the Gubanpo Station branch tested positive, and the store was immediately closed and disinfected according to guidelines. In addition, all four employees identified as close contacts by epidemiological investigators were tested and found to be negative.

Hollys Coffee has traced the movements of the confirmed employee over the past two weeks, and at the company level, all former employees of the Gubanpo Station branch were immediately required to undergo paid diagnostic testing, all of which returned negative results. The Gubanpo Station branch will remain closed until the 14th in accordance with the Central Disease Control Headquarters' guidelines.

The Hollys Coffee employee who was confirmed positive was checked for personal health status as usual upon arriving at work on the 10th, showed symptoms of fever, was sent home and tested, and was confirmed positive by the health center on the 12th. Hollys Coffee suspended operations at the Gubanpo Station branch and immediately completed disinfection.

All Hollys Coffee employees are required to wear masks and latex gloves and have their personal health status checked upon arrival at work. When a COVID-19 case occurs, additional disinfection is conducted by the health center and internally, and the company actively cooperates with epidemiological investigations and disinfection measures according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters' management guidelines. Furthermore, all employees are notified of the situation, and the company actively supports the confirmed patient in receiving treatment according to government policies. Inside the stores, all employees and customers are instructed to wear masks when ordering or visiting. Additionally, in stores located in major commercial areas with high customer density, table spacing is adjusted and guidelines are posted to maintain distance while queuing for orders.

Additionally, Hollys Coffee plans to implement the 'Hollys Coffee Customer Health Keeper Guidelines' campaign, primarily in stores located in major commercial areas with high customer density, by gradually attaching stickers to tables. The campaign includes △ mandatory mask-wearing when using the store ▲ wearing masks before and after consuming food (beverages) ▲ sitting at least 1 meter apart ▲ disinfecting hands with hand sanitizer. Furthermore, announcements conveying these guidelines are broadcast once every hour.

A Hollys Coffee representative stated, “We apologize for causing concern to customers who love Hollys Coffee due to this news,” and added, “Hollys Coffee is actively cooperating with the Central Disease Control Headquarters' epidemiological investigation and will devote all efforts to disinfection activities to prevent infectious diseases.”