Hudson Pizza Restaurant Fined By State Officials

HUDSON, NH — State officials have fined a Hudson restaurant for violating New Hampshire safety protocols and emergency orders connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fat Katz Food & Drink, a pizza restaurant that also hosts karaoke on Derry Road in Hudson, has been fined $2,000 by the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office for the violations. About two dozen people have contracted COVID-19 after two people failed to quarantine and exposed the virus to others.

The penalties were for violation of food service industry guidance and violation of the state's Emergency Order 52 (which was extended by Emergency Order 70). The food service guidance, a part of the Safer at Home coronavirus recommendations issued in mid-May, require face coverings of employees and patrons, safety protocols for employees, separation of patrons, and limited entertainment options and rules for performances inside of restaurants and bars.

According to state documents, Tom Vaughan, the owner of the restaurant, was warned in early September not to conduct karaoke or open mic performances inside the restaurant with shared equipment. The restaurant, according to the state, moved karaoke indoors sometime in late September and allowed patrols to perform without their own equipment. No one from the business informed the state of this change either, according to documents.

On Oct. 9, the restaurant posted information about the outbreak on Facebook but have since removed that information. The post claimed a part-time employee had tested positive and they were closing while waiting for more guidance from the state. Later, state health officials said the restaurant was being investigated. The restaurant's Facebook site is not active at post time.

Contact tracers have found a number of people who were potentially exposed but are also asking anyone who was at the restaurant in October to get tested.

The restaurant has until Oct. 30 to pay the fine.

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