Oldham takeaways are closed down amid Covid-19 breaches

Environmental health chiefs initially ordered that Spicy Kitchen, in Milnrow Road, Shaw, be closed down, after staff admitted they had come into contact with a colleague with Covid-19.

And after further investigations, when it emerged the same management was responsible for those premises, the Chicken Express and Milkshake Bar next door was served with a similar prohibition.

In a report to councillors, Samantha Cox, Oldham Council's head of public protection, said: "Environmental Health staff visited the Spicy Kitchen following a notification of a positive case within a member of staff.

"When officers arrived they witnessed staff not socially distancing and not wearing face coverings.

"Officers questioned staff about any positive cases and were told that a member of staff had tested positive and they had worked with him within the 48 hour period before his test result.

"Officers also established that there is a second business next door, Chicken Express Pizza and Milkshake Bar, owned by the same person, which has a separate customer entrance, but shares a rear entrance, storage and equipment washing and toilet facilities.

"The staff in the two businesses are in close contact.

"The owner of the business arrived and at first try to deny that there had been a positive case.

"He then admitted it and said not all staff had worked with him.

"After speaking to all staff members it was established that they had all worked with him and were therefore all contacts and all were told they must self-isolate.

"There are no Covid control measures in place and the business owner has allowed contacts of a case to continue to work."

The closure decision was ratified by Rebekah Sutcliffe, the council's communities director.

Last month the council also closed down a barber's Hashims & Co, after environmental health officers saw staff nor wearing masks or visors and customers also failing to wear masks.