Local Dairy Queen employee tests positive for COVID-19, owner orders staff to self-quarantine

DQ store owner confirms shop was professionally sanitized, meeting health department standards to remain open.

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A Dairy Queen employee at the 4th ave location in Yuma tested positive for covid-19 Monday.

Store owner, Kim Norris, tells News 11 the employee was exposed to the virus after coming in contact with someone outside of the workplace, who also tested positive.

Although the staff was previously taking precautions like wearing gloves, masks, and frequent cleaning, Norris says she felt obligated to order all staff members who worked with that employee to self-quarantine and get tested.

The owner has since hired a few new staff members, even bringing in family members to help keep the business running.

But right now, what she says is most important is transparency with her customers and the public.

Norris understands for some people, Dairy Queen is a comfort treat during these trying times.

“People are so vulnerable to ugly rumors, I’m open to people just calling me and talking to me about it straight forward," said Norris.

She added, "I talked to now two different supervisors at the Yuma County Health Department who both told me that I was doing everything right. They were quite pleased with the way we were handling the situation and they didn’t have any concerns about it.”

Norris says, on Wednesday, professional cleaners scrubbed the 800-square-foot store for more than 12-hours, using a commercial-grade sanitizer.

Norris is confident her store is following CDC restaurant guidelines for reducing the spread of the virus.