Ho Ho Hurl
It was damage control time at Baywood these past two weeks after some 900 people were exposed to Norwalk virus there, over five days and a passel of gatherings of movers and shakers in HumCo. While the TS was making nice, it did seem odd to hear Baywood management trying to blame the customers for bringing this dread disease to them. As though that could happen for five days and a dozen or so banquets.
Obviously somebody in the kitchen was sick, and, being the Christmas season and not having sick leave, he or she played hurt and shared. And shared. There were a couple who ended up in the ER, but mostly it was 166 people just being miserably sick. It could have been a lot worse.
The NCJ was critical of the Health Department for not coming out earlier with the source of the sickness, but the only thing that could have been done differently would have been to start canceling banquets at least one day earlier when it became obvious the problem WASN’T going away. One or two days, especially on a weekend, is understandable, but as foodservice workers get hungrier, they’re going to work sick more, and this is going to happen again.
Comments
You are right on here. I was told Baywood knew on Monday that many people had gotten sick from Saturday afternoon's luncheon, yet went ahead and served 216 meals at the library gala, and on and on through Wednesday noon when they finally stopped. Apparently County Environmental Health does not have the power to shutter the doors, only to suggest it.
Posted by: Another Voice | December 14, 2007 06:58 PM
I don't buy it that the health dept. was powerless here. Just telling people where they got sick would have helped. That said, I thought Hank (at NCJ) let the golf club off too easy. They kept harping on the public bringing in the virus, which could be true, but it must have been passed along by on of their workers. No one from the public was at all those banquets.
Posted by: Bob | December 15, 2007 01:14 PM
I didn't say there were powerless, I was only talking about their ability to close them down. I have learned since I posted a couple of days ago they do have that power, but don't tend to move real quickly which is understandable; however I also learned that if Baywood had not closed voluntarily on Wednesday night that would have been the next step.
Posted by: Another Voice | December 16, 2007 11:29 AM
When has the Health Dept. closed a restaurant? I understand it is rarely and not because it hasn't been justified. Seems there are some pretty weak managers calling the shots.
Posted by: washed my hands | December 17, 2007 05:58 PM