Chipotle Norovirus Outbreak: Chipotle In Billerica Temporarily Closed Over Norovirus Concerns

Chipotle located in Billerica, Massachusetts voluntarily closed its doors early on Tuesday after an employee was diagnosed with norovirus. Moreover, two other employees of the restaurant were suspected to have the same virus.

"There has been one confirmed case of norovirus," Board of Health Chairwoman Sandra Giroux said to Boston Herald. Further adding that there are at least two employees of Chipotle who are reportedly suffering from similar symptoms.

Another #Massachusetts #Chipotle has had to close down due to #Norovirus. $CMG https://t.co/z6bKttuILI

— Matt Soleyn (@MattSoleyn) Marso 9, 2016

Giroux said Chipotle voluntarily closed after four employees called out sick and one was tested positive for norovirus. But no customers have ever complained of being sick or tested positive for the same virus after dining at the Chipotle.

"After learning that four of our employees were not feeling well, our restaurant in Billerica was closed for a full sanitization," Chris Arnold, a spokesman for Chipotle said. "We do not know if the employees are ill with norovirus and no customers' illnesses are connected to this restaurant." Arnold also said that any of their staff who feels ill will be not allowed to report for work until they fully recover based on the strict rule of Chipotle.

Cleanup crews have now arrived. #Chipotle will clean top to bottom & throw out all the food. #WBZ pic.twitter.com/62gZvwuOQL — Julie Loncich (@JulieLoncich) Marso 8, 2016

Later that day, cleanup crews were seen arriving at the Chipotle restaurant, reported by CBS Boston. Giroux said health inspectors will be working with Chipotle until they are done with the sanitation. Furthermore, she cleared that all of the food that was inside the restaurant will be thrown away before Chipotle reopens just to make sure that the employees, including the customers, are safe from food poisoning.

The closing comes after 150 people were hospitalized due to norovirus after eating at the Chipotle located in Cleveland Circle. Chipotle bosses and staff later held a meeting and tackled the food safety issue to avoid the same incident from happening to any of their Chipotle branches.

During the meeting, Chipotle Co-chief executive officer Morty Moran also made it clear that sick employees should not report to work and should stay home instead. Since then, Chipotle has been following the stringent guidelines, including shutting down right away when they notice any signs of a potential threat to food safety.