BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. - A Twin Cities Caribou Coffee location is open for business following an apparent outbreak of norovirus last week.
Caribou made the decision to close the location at 9638 Colorado Lane North in Brooklyn Park after a group of three employees called in sick with similar symptoms. Caribou spokesperson Bri Bauer says seven employees eventually became ill, and that the company took 6 customer calls from people who had become ill.
The Minneapolis Department of Health told Caribou that the outbreak is most likely norovirus, a contagious and fast-spreading bug that inflames the stomach and intestines, leading to pain, vomiting and diarrhea. It can be spread through an infected person, contaminated food or water, or by touching contaminated surfaces.
Bauer says Caribou called in a professional cleaning company for a deep scrub of the entire facility, closed the Brooklyn Park location at 4 p.m. Friday and reopened on Monday at 5:30 a.m.