Omicron Variant Found To Be More Contagious, Triggers COVID-19 Outbreak in Coachella Valley Restaurant

Health officials announced in a press release on Wednesday, December 22, that almost 90 employees of Mastro's Steakhouse in Palm Desert were ordered to get tested after a major COVID-19 outbreak among workers was reported that involved a case of the Omicron variant.

Riverside authorities reported last week that this would be the first Omicron case in the Coachella Valley, particularly in the western part of the county.

(Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Los Angeles County public health officials have issued an order to suspend all restaurant dining including outdoor dining for three weeks, starting November 24 at 10 pm amid a surge of new coronavirus cases.

Major COVID-19 Outbreak Might Have Caused By the Omicron Variant

Local news outlet News Channel 3 reported that county health officials are currently investigating over 20 COVID-19 cases that have been reported in Mastro's Steakhouse in the past month. At least two of those cases were symptomatic and were hospitalized after experiencing symptoms.

The restaurant's manager was informed on Tuesday and was advised by health officials not to open the restaurant for dinner. The RUHS Public Health team said the restaurant closed early after initially opening for service to conduct COVID--19 testing on their employees.

The county sent a team of public health workers to the restaurant that evening for free testing that would help protect employees and avoid community transmission. Public Health for Riverside County director Kim Saruwatari said that the outbreak was not met lightly to prevent the spread of the virus, especially since the Omicron variant was confirmed among the ill employees.

Previous reports suggest that the Omicron variant is more transmissible than previous strains like the Delta variant. The Omicron variant is said to make up the majority of COVID-19 cases in many countries in Europe and in South Africa, where it was first detected.

Officials said that employees could go back to work after they tested negative and when exposures have been addressed. Saruwatari has praised the cooperation between the restaurant and county health officials, which made the testing process go smoothly. After all, the goal is to protect public health and open businesses as soon as possible.

Health officials continue to cooperate with the restaurant management based in Texas to gather more information about their employees and help track their possible contacts and continue their investigation.

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Mastro's Steakhouse Management Assures to Follow CDC Guidelines

According to Yahoo! News, the chief operating officer of Mastro's Restaurants, Tim Whitlock, released a statement on Wednesday saying that the restaurant's management will continue to follow all health protocols set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and have taken all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their employees and customers.

He added that their employees have been tested already and addressed any exposures. As they continue to cooperate with county health officials, they also announced that they have fully sanitized the restaurant and will reopen this evening.

With the number of cases recorded in the restaurant, state officials have identified it as a major outbreak. Local health officials have consulted the state health representatives regarding the actions taken by the county to make sure it is within the guidelines set by the California Department of Industrial Relations and the Emergency Temporary Standards for COVID-19 prevention.