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Above: First United Bank in Marble Falls was scheduled to temporarily close for at least the rest of the week, after officials reported that staff members tested positive for COVID-19. As motorists arrived at the business, employees rerouted customers to the First United Bank locations in Horseshoe Bay and Kingsland, as virus mitigation efforts got underway. Connie Swinney/The Highlander -
Left: Bay View Restaurant and Bar in Cottonwood Shores closed from July 24 to 29 due to positive coronavirus testing. Owners re-opened after a professional cleaning and personnel quarantines. Contributed -
Boat Town Burger Bar, features indoor and outdoor dining, live music and family activities at a venue adjacent to the RM 2900 bridge in Kingsland. Business owners opted to shutter for a few days – July 29 to 31 – last week to sanitize and rearrange staff schedules after personnel tested positive for the coronavirus. Contributed/Boat Town
A bank and two restaurants in the Highland Lakes opted for temporary closures to sanitize, quarantine and re-organize staffing protocols during the past two weeks due to fears about the spread of a new strain of the COVID-19 virus, known as the Delta variant.
The latest temporary closures, during the last week of July and first few days of August, came on the heels of several months of re-openings among local businesses after mass voluntary vaccinations swept the region.
However, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently began publicizing a new threat, the Delta strain, which rekindled fears about the spread of a virus in group settings in two local eateries and the Marble Falls First United Bank.
On Tuesday, Aug. 3, bank employees turned away drivethrough customers outside and the lobby was closed as well as the banking and ATM drivethrough lanes.
An employee and door signs directed customers to bank locations in Horseshoe Bay and Kingsland.
“We had several (employees) test positive and out of an abundance of caution we closed temporarily while we deep cleaned and organized to get the appropriate staffing to open back up,” said local bank president J Don McAlpin. McAlpin oversees the Horseshoe Bay and Kingsland locations as well as Marble Falls bank.
“We’re hoping this will be a short-term inconvenience,” he said.
“(Customers) can do anything they need at the other branches as they do in Marble Falls.”
Bank officials confirmed they expected to re-open in-person Marble Falls banking services by Thursday, Aug. 5 but possibly no later than Aug. 9.
Two other businesses reacting to concerns about the virus were
Bay View Restaurant and Bar in Cottonwood Shores and Boat Town Burger Bar in Kingsland.
Both eatery owners took to social media to announce their temporary closures.
Bay View posted that they closed to launch virus mitigation on July 24 and re-opened on July 29.
“[S]everal of our team members developed Covid symptoms late Friday and have tested positive. We are having our entire staff tested, monitored and isolated,” Bay View’s company statement read on July 24. “Most of our staff had received vaccinations including those testing positive.
“So we remind everyone to be diligent in keeping you and your family safe.”
Three days later, restaurant officials explained that an assessment of returning personnel determined the timeline of their re-opening.
“Thank you for your patience and concern as we took the necessary safety precautions to protect our staff and guests this past week,” Bay View’s statement read. “All safety precautions at the restaurant and policies for our staff members returning to work will be in accordance with CDC guidelines and recommendations.”
Boat Town — best known for its hamburgers, live music and family activities at a waterside venue — announced July 29 that the establishment shuttered its doors.
“We unfortunately had staff that tested positive for Covid-19 today, and out of an abundance of caution have chosen to close our restaurant until Saturday at the earliest,” the burger eatery posted on its social media account. “This allows us time to gather all available information and come up with a plan to re-open that will help maintain the health and safety of our team members and guests.”
The burger joint re-opened on July 31.
“We’re happy to announce that we’re ready to open tomorrow after many confirmed negative tests, a full disinfection of our property, and some schedule adjustments,” the social media statement read.