A THIRD member of staff has tested positive at a Bournemouth Wetherspoon pub.

The Moon in the Square employee is now self-isolating, as are a further five staff who may have come into close contact with the person.

A Wetherspoon spokesman told the Daily Echo: "Two members of staff at the Moon in the Square tested positive for Covid-19 on September 7. A third employee has since notified us of having tested positive for Covid-19 on September 14. In accordance with public health guidelines, the employee has been required to self-isolate for the requisite ten-day period.

"Wetherspoon has notified Public Health England of the positive result. The company wishes the employee a full and speedy recovery.

"As a precaution, in accordance with public health guidelines, five other members of staff who may have come into close contact with the employee have been asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Close contact means being within two metres of a person who tested positive for the virus for 15 minutes or more or within one metre for one minute or more."

He said Wetherspoon is operating soial distancing and hygiene practices in all its pubs, such as reduced capacity levels, the spacing out of tables, the installation of a number of floor screens between tables and the addition of till-surround screens to the bar.

Staff are conducting regular surface cleaning and numerous hand sanitisers have been installed in each pub.

He added: "While it is not possible to create an entirely risk-free environment, adherence to social distancing guidelines and rigorous implementation of hygiene standards minimises the risk."