Forked River Wines Closes Due To Possible COVID Exposure

LACEY, NJ — Forked River Wines and Spirits temporarily closed because of potential coronavirus exposure, the business announced Monday. An employee's family member has been showing signs of the coronavirus and was exposed to someone who had it.

The business hopes to reopen before the week is over, General Manager Rick Jefferson told Patch. A company is sanitizing the store, and all employees will get tested and can only return after testing negative.

Additionally, they will bring in staff from another location who haven't interacted with anyone from the Lacey location.

"We want full transparency," Jefferson told Patch. "Our biggest concern is to keep our staff, customers and the township safe and healthy."

The Thirsty Piney, a bar in the back of the store, will remain closed until they feel comfortable reopening it, Jefferson said.

The Ocean County Health Department has reported 392 coronavirus cases and 10 deaths in Lacey as of Tuesday morning — an increase of seven cases and no new deaths in the past week.

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Ocean County, however, has recently seen an uptick in cases, according to officials. The OCHD has reported 731 new cases in Ocean County since Friday.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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