3 Dutch Bros. shops in Tri-Cities close for cleaning after 8 ‘broistas’ test positive

Three Dutch Bros. Coffee stands in the Tri-Cities are now closed after eight employees tested positive for COVID-19.

The Richland shop at 496 Keene Road and two Pasco shops, 2601 Court St. and 6609 Burden Blvd., have temporarily shut down for deep cleanings following the revelations in the past week

The Burden location is the most recent to learn Wednesday that at least two of its employees had been infected with the coronavirus.

The Richland shop also reported Wednesday that a second employee received positive results.

That makes at least eight “broistas” from the three stands who have been removed from the work schedules and advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

The popular coffee shop has six locations in the Tri-Cities and one in Prosser.

“The health and well-being of our customers and employees is always our top priority,” the company reported on Facebook, confirming the positive tests.

The Court Street location was the first to learn on July 4-5 about two employees. And two more received positive results on July 8.

Before receiving positive tests, those employees had worked the morning shifts on June 26 and June 30, and day shifts on June 25, 27, 29 and 30, July 1 and 4, and a night shift July 2. All were advised to self-isolate for 14 days.

The store immediately started closing procedures after getting the first results, said the company website.

The following day, Sunday, an employee at the Keene shop got their test results. That employee had worked a day shift on June 26 and afternoon/evening shift on June 27.

Wednesday, the Richland shop announced the positive status of a second employee, who worked an afternoon shift on the Fourth of July holiday.

And the Burden stand got word about two of its broistas. One employee worked a day shift on July 3 and an afternoon/evening shift on July 4, and the second employee worked day shifts on June 30 and July 2.

Employees work in close quarters in the Dutch Bros. stands, but management has implemented certain steps to help prevent or reduce the spread of the virus.

In addition to having broistas use trays to pass straws and drinks to customers, the company:

▪ Enforced increased hand-washing and sanitizing

▪ Temporarily suspended the use of personal mugs in the drive-thru

▪ Temporarily closed walk-ins and walk-ups at the stands to focus exclusively on serving at drive-thru windows

▪ Instituted a cashless payment system, eliminating unnecessary touch points with customers.

▪ Instituted mask policies to align with updated CDC recommendations

“We are also coordinating with public health officials to confirm our protocols not only meet, but exceed, expectations,” Dutch Bros. said in announcing the positive tests.

Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to reach out to communitywellness@dutchbros.com.

This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 7:40 PM.