Staffing

80 In-N-Out employees contract COVID-19

Photo: iStock.

December 28, 2020

At least 80 In-N-Out Burger employees in Colorado have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment.

The Arapahoe and El Paso restaurants first opened last month, where fights broke out among customers waiting in lines.

An additional 25 employees may also have the virus but had not yet been tested, the department said. The workers who were positive for the virus and those who were near them were "excluded from the workplace," according to a statement released to the news outlet from In-N-Out Vice President of Operations Denny Warnick.

During the past few weeks, we have experienced a concerning number of Colorado associates who have tested positive for COVID-19," Warnick said in a statement provided to QSRweb. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our associates and we are hopeful for quick recoveries for each of those affected. ...

"We continue to work closely with our public health agencies and have confirmed the appropriate steps to help protect our communities. These steps include: limiting staff to the minimum number necessary to serve our customers using staff "cohorts" to limit possible exposure, and limiting dining room access to takeout orders only while ensuring appropriate physical distancing."

Colorado recorded more than 320,000 cases of the virus and 4,550 as of last week.