Wetherspoon says 66 staff tested positive for Covid-19 but none of its pubs closed for deep clean

Founder Tim Martin says 40 pubs have reported one case, six pubs have reported two, two pubs have reported three and two pubs have reported four

Wetherspoons said staff affected had self-isolated for 14 days (Reuters)

JD Wetherspoon has revealed that 66 staff at its pubs have tested positive for coronavirus.

The chain, which employs 41,000 people insisted that visiting its pubs is safe and pointed out that it had invested £15m in hygiene and social distancing measures. Of the staff members who tested positive, 28 have since returned to work, Wetherspoon said.

Pubs where infected staff work have not been closed for deep cleaning and no list is available of premises that have been affected.

Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin said 811 pubs have reported zero positive tests, 40 pubs have reported one, six pubs have reported two, two pubs reported three and two pubs reported four.

He told investors that he believes the safety of pubs during the pandemic has been “widely misunderstood”.

A spokesperson said: “The advice Wetherspoon has received from the public health authorities is that employees should self-isolate if they come into close contact with someone who has tested positive. Close contact means within two metres for 15 minutes or more or one metre for one minute or more.

“Unless social distancing policies have not been observed, the health authorities, in our experience, do not normally advise closure.”

The company reported that its pubs were “very quiet” over the weekend, before the government introduced a new “rule of six”.

From Monday, people could face fines of up to £3,200 if they attend social gatherings of more than six people.

Mr Martin said: “Trade was very quiet over the weekend, as the public weighed up the evidence about the alleged dangers of going out – Wetherspoon sales were 22.5 per cent below the equivalent Saturday last year.”

Industry bodies including the British Beer & Pub Association, said the new rule will halt the recovery of hospitality firms without extended financial support for the sector.

Mr Martin added: “If pubs are closed, or restricted so much that they become unprofitable, a great deal of the strenuous effort of the hospitality industry's 3.2 million employees, currently engaged on upholding hygiene and social distancing standards, will be lost.”

Wetherspoon said about 32 million people have visited its pubs since they reopened their doors at the start of July. 

The company said it has reported 66 positive tests for Covid-19 among its 41,564 employees since reopening.

Last month, the group said like-for-like bar and food sales were down 16.9 per cent for the 44 days to 16 August, compared with the same period last year.

Mr Martin said the sales slump means it expects to post a loss for the year to 26 July.