BECKLEY, W.Va. — Following recent instances of Hepatitis A infection among food service workers in Raleigh County, a Beckley restaurant announced it is requiring all current and future employees to be vaccinated against the virus.
The general manager of Golden Corral on Eisenhower Drive released a statement Wednesday, in which he said, “We thought it was our responsibility to our valued guests and crew to take proactive steps to stem the tide of Hepatitis A. The safety of the community is a top priority at Golden Corral. We have not had any cases of Hep A. We’re simply taking every available precaution while making sure our community has peace of mind while dining with us.”
In early November, the Beckley-Raleigh County Health Department offered free Hepatitis A vaccines after a case of the disease was confirmed to be present in a food service worker at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen in Beckley.
The following week, a second case of a food service worker infected with Hepatitis A was confirmed at Ghent Elementary School south of Beckley. There were no reported cases of infection among people who consumed food in either instance.