Customers react to coronavirus outbreak announcements from Poulton eateries

Poulton venues Cinco's Mexican Restaurant, Boca Cafe and Bar, Rumba Bar, The Tipsy Cow, and The Alley closed suddenly this week after four workers across four of the venues tested positive for Covid-19.

And Cinco's said: "We are unable to determine whether specific customers may or may not have been exposed, but have taken all the correct measures required.

"All details have been passed on to the NHS Track and Trace [sic]. They will contact you if they feel that they need to."

Four of the five venues are owned by the same company. None responded to requests for a comment.

The Alley in Breck Mews, owned by a separate company, confirmed that one worker was infected.

Gemma Sprung said she ate at The Tipsy Cow in Breck Road at the weekend but did not give her details for the NHS Test and Trace programme.

She asked the venue on social media: "Please can you confirm which customers this may affect - for example, what days?

"To simply wait for track and trace to contact you is not good enough.

"I dined with you on Saturday evening with a group and was not asked to fill in any forms, therefore if I am affected I will not know."

A spokesman said nobody currently working at The Tipsy Cow had tested positive for Covid-19 and insisted: "If you booked via our website we would have recorded your contact number from that on to our track and trace sheet.

"We do not ask for forms to be filled in, if we do not have a contact number from your booking, we ask to take a contact number for one person in your party.

"All customer details and the dates of their visit have been passed on to NHS track and trace.

"They will contact anyone who they feel may have been at risk of contracting the virus."

Simon Liptrott, who owns Cinco's, could not be reached for a comment.

In response to the outbreak announcements, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, director of public health at Lancashire County Council said: "Wyre still has very low infection rates, however it is more important than ever that we all work together now to follow government guidance.

"Give each other space whether you are inside or outdoors, wash your hands regularly, wear a face covering where needed and if you do show symptoms, stay home and get tested."

Wyre Council said it had "seen an increase in Covid-19 cases in the borough. As of September 8, there were 16.2 cases per 100,000 in Wyre, up from 3.5 on September 1.

The council said that while numbers remained low, "it was important that the community take action to stop the spread."

It urged businesses who need to report a possible outbreak to "immediately contact their local PHE Health Protection Team for help and advice."