Starbucks closes store in downtown Seattle after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Rossann Williams, executive vice president of Starbucks, said in a message to its partners that the company first learned of the employee who was diagnosed with COVID-19 Thursday and quickly took steps to close the store for "a deep clean overnight."

The employee is now in self-quarantine at home, Williams said in the message, adding "Because this is our first confirmed case, we felt it was best to reach out and share this update with you all."

Williams said the company will take similar measures, including store closures and deep cleaning, if more COVID-19 cases occur at its stores in the future.
She said the store closed on Thursday will be reopened after further preventative cleaning and be "staffed by partners who have no known impact from COVID-19."

"We look forward to welcoming our customers back very soon so we can continue to be their Third Place," said the Starbucks executive.

Washington state is home to the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the United States, and the country has reported more than 300 cases with 17 deaths across the country as of Friday, according to US media.