For Immediate Release: Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) has reopened its Flower Avenue Liquor and Wine store in Silver Spring after one store employee tested positive for COVID-19.
The store is located at 8706-B Flower Avenue in Silver Spring.
ABS was notified of the positive test result on Tuesday, July 7, prior to opening. The store remained closed all day Tuesday so that a specialized unit could perform a deep cleaning and sanitization, which included cleaning all surfaces and products, and fogging with specialized machines. The Flower Avenue store reopened at noon today, July 8.
This is the third ABS store to experience a COVID-19 related closure since the health crisis hit in Maryland in March. ABS deeply values transparency, and in each instance, worked to immediately notify the public through news releases, on the ABS website and via social media.
Starting Thursday, July 9, ABS will provide bi-monthly testing for all employees who opt in as an extra safety measure. The testing will be available for all ABS retail, warehouse and office employees.
Since the COVID-19 health crisis began, ABS has been deep cleaning all stores. Daily temperature checks are conducted of each employee and they are following enhanced cleaning protocols for high touch surfaces. In addition, plexiglass has been installed at the registers in each store to create a barrier between consumers and employees. ABS has also implemented policies requiring employees to wash their hands hourly and to use hand sanitizer between transactions. Face coverings and social distancing of at least six feet are required for customers and employees.
ABS provides administrative leave for any employee experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or who has tested positive. Employees who are symptomatic are requested to stay home.
Earlier this week, ABS
closed its Darnestown Liquor and Wine store after three employees tested positive for COVID-19. A fourth employee at that same store now also has tested positive. The number of employees in quarantine caused staffing shortages, which forced the Darnestown store to close for two weeks. The store is scheduled to reopen on Monday, July 20.
Residents looking to be tested for COVID-19 can find out more information on the Montgomery County COVID-19 website at https://montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing.html.
ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine and spirits for Montgomery County. ABS operates 25 beer, wine and spirits stores and one spirits only store in Poolesville. It manages alcohol licensing, enforcement and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, ABS profits are used to pay down County debt, with a large portion deposited in the County general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.
For information about ABS, including store hours and locations, visit their website and follow ABS on Facebook and Twitter.
For the latest COVID-19 updates, visit the County’s COVID-19 data dashboard.
# # #
Put the “count” in Montgomery County! Be sure to complete the Census online, by phone, or by mail. It’s safe, confidential, easy, and important. #2020Census #EveryoneCountsMCMD
Release ID: 20-366
Media Contact: Melissa Davis 240-660-1224
