Number of COVID-19 cases linked to Gatineau restaurant swells

About 15 staff and customers of Shaker Cuisine & Mixologie inGatineau, Que., have now tested positive for COVID-19, according to local health officials.

The chain restaurantin the Promenades Gatineaumall temporarily closed Mondayafter announcing five of its staff had tested positive. The five employees last worked Aug. 24 and had no direct contact with customers, the restaurant said initially.

On Thursday, however, the region's public health unit confirmed in a French-languageinterview with Radio-Canada that 10 employees and "five or six" customers of the restaurant have now tested positive for COVID-19.

Loud bars can heighten risk

TheCentre intgr de sant et de services sociauxde l'Outaouais(CISSSO) is urging anyone who was at the restaurant between Aug. 20 and 27 to get tested.

CISSSOis also reaching out to close contacts of the confirmed cases, said Dr.Carol McConnery.

McConnery told Radio-Canada that patrons of loud bars often sit closer together and lower their masks,which are mandatory in indoor public spaces in Quebec.

The RLS de Gatineau, which covers the city and a small part of the neighbouring municipality of L'Ange Gardien,has logged 47 confirmed COVID-19 cases so far this week.