Three employees of a Central Eastside dance club say as many as 1,000 people might have been exposed to the coronavirus between Friday and Sunday, Dec. 17-19, and may not have been alerted.
The employees, who work at the club 45 East, all said that six of the club’s staff tested positive for COVID-19 following a weekend of sold-out shows.
The employees asked WW for anonymity, fearing they could lose their jobs or have trouble finding future employment.
“It was most of the front-of-house staff (bartenders and servers) who worked on Friday,” an employee told WW. “By Tuesday, I think most of us tested positive for COVID.”
Peter Webb, the club’s manager, confirmed to WW that positive COVID tests did occur among his staff and that the club postponed a show Dec. 23 because of COVID.
“We did receive reports of positive tests from staff members this Tuesday,” Webb told WW via email. He did not specify the number of positive tests.
Webb did not respond to questions about whether the hundreds of patrons of the weekend’s shows were notified. No such notification could be seen on the club’s social media accounts or website.
A photographer who took pictures at the club on Friday for 45 East said he was not notified of the outbreak. Paul Garcia confirmed to WW on Dec. 24 that management did not inform him of the positive tests.
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