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The Health Department confirmed Monday that people who ate at or worked at the Mamaroneck Diner last week tested positive for Norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea.
The department said the management and staff of the diner have been extremely cooperative to ensure every precaution is taken to prevent spreading.
A diner representative did not have an exact date for reopening but said they are aiming for Wednesday if they are able to complete all prep work.
Norovirus is the most common cause of foodborne illness. The diner voluntarily closed Friday evening and has followed the recommendations of the health department, which included discarding any open food, single service food containers that might have been contaminated and food that would not require cooking, officials with the Health Department said.
They also brought in an outside firm to thoroughly clean the restaurant with products that can eradicate Norovirus, they added.
Public health nurses interviewed diner employees and have excluded from work any staff who were ill or had recently been ill.
"It is up to the Diner’s management to determine when to reopen," the department said in a statement. "The health department plans to be present when they do reopen to assure that those who report to work are healthy."
The health department said it has had inspectors on site and will continue this week.
Anyone who experiences nausea, vomiting or diarrhea should stay home, should limit their contact with others to avoid spreading the virus and should not handle food for others while ill. Anyone who works in healthcare, childcare or in food preparation should stay home from work until 72 hours after symptoms resolve.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment other than to make sure to drink plenty of fluids. The illness must just run its course. Most people usually recover in a couple of days.
For more information about Norovirus go to www.westchestergov.com/health.
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