Jacksonville Beach bars closed for precautionary cleaning

Jacksonville, FL — Update June 14, 10:40 p.m.:  Action News Jax has learned another popular Jacksonville Beach bar is closing temporarily for cleaning after customers who may have visited the bar tested positive for COVID-19.

The owner of the Wreck Tiki Lounge, said the bar is closing its doors for cleaning as a precautionary measure after people who went to nearby Lynch’s Irish Pub last weekend tested positive for coronavirus.

Original Story, June 13:  Lynch's Irish Pub in Jacksonville Beach closed Saturday for a professional cleaning, according to owner Keith Doherty, after a post on social media claimed that customers who went to the pub last weekend tested positive for COVID-19. The post has been shared over 300 times.

A sign posted on the front door of the bar asks people not to enter if they are experiencing a cough, sneeze, fever or trouble breathing.

Doherty said he’s sending his staff to get rapid COVID-19 tests and hopes to have results Sunday night. He plans to reopen the bar sometime next week if none of the staff members test positive. If they do turn up positive results, the bar will remain closed for two weeks.

Action News Jax spoke with a Erika Crisp, who said she went to Lynch’s last Saturday, June 6, with a group of about 15 people. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 June 10.

“Last Saturday, June 6, I went out with some girlfriends for a friend’s birthday, probably shouldn’t have,” Crisp said.

She said ten people in her party have also tested positive for COVID-19.

“For all of us who have gotten it and other groups who got it on the same night and day before, that’s just too coincidental,” Crisp said. “I honestly feel like coming from the medical field I should’ve known better.”

Doherty said he thinks his bar will be the first of several to close in a “chain reaction,” because many people who enjoy Jacksonville Beach’s nightlife scene go to multiple bars in one night.

We reached out to Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham to find out what will need to happen to make sure local bars are doing what they can to keep people safe and are waiting to hear back from him.