The increase in COVID-19 cases has had an affect on the area. Businesses have been affected as several have had to close for a few days and others for nearly two weeks. Due to the increase of cases New Prague Area Schools recently made the decision to have the high school go to distance learning on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and kindergarten through eighth grade will begin distance learning on Monday, Nov. 23. New Prague Area Schools are scheduled to remain in distance learning until December 23.
At Giesenbrau Bier Co. the microbrewery’s tap room was closed from Monday, Nov. 9, to Thursday, Nov. 12, due to an employee being exposed to COVID-19. A sign on the door noted the employee was in quarantine and the tap room was receiving a deep cleaning and sanitizing. According to their facebook page: "In the midst of rapidly growing numbers of COVID-19 cases in our community, we have decided to halt onsite consumption in the taproom and move to to-go service only through December 1st. None of our employees have tested positive thus far, and we are trying our best to keep it that way. We will be closed today and tomorrow, and will open on Thursday [November 19th] with new hours: Tuesday-Saturday 3-7pm and Sundays 2-5pm for crowlers to-go only. We appreciate your support of small, community businesses like ours and hope you'll continue to mask up and make purchases from your local shops who will need you, now more than ever, to make it through the winter months."
Patty’s Place, a coffee shop and bakery, informed its customers on its Facebook page on Wednesday, Nov. 11, that they found out there was a positive case among their staff, affecting four employees who will need to go into quarantine. The business on Main Street temporarily closed, and it reopened on Monday, Nov. 16, with limited hours, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and hoped to reopen fully on Monday, Nov. 23.
The Fishtale Grill announced on their Facebook page on Thursday, Nov. 12, that they will be temporarily closed so their kitchen staff can get tested for COVID-19. A kitchen staff member, who has not worked since Thursday, Nov. 5, and has been in quarantine, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Because of the positive result, the business is having all staff who had possible exposure get tested. Management at the Fishtale Grill is trying to be proactive with the testing. The restaurant on 10th Avenue NE will be keeping its customers informed when they will be reopening and will only reopen when they are certain it is safe for all staff to return to work.
First Bank & Trust of New Prague announced on its Facebook page that due to the spread of COVID, they had decided to close their lobby in New Prague beginning on Thursday, Nov. 19. They advised their customers that the drive-up is available and is open regular hours. Other banking options are digital banking is available 24/7, people can meet a banker by appointment by calling their phone number and ATMs are available. Deputy Registrar is by appointment as well.
COVID-19 impacts area businesses
