The Cranberry Township Olive Garden on Route 228 has three employees who have presumably tested positive for COVID-19. The employees were last in the restaurant June 24 and 25. Restaurant officials have since given the location two deep sanitizations with disinfectant approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The restaurant remains open.

CRANBERRY TWP — Darden Restaurants spokesman Rich Jeffers confirmed Friday morning that three Olive Garden employees in Cranberry Township are believed to have tested positive for COVID-19.

Jeffers, who is based in Orlando, said while the individuals haven't provided copies of written diagnoses, restaurant management is following company protocol and treating the cases as confirmed.

“We had three team members inform us of a positive diagnosis,” Jeffers said. “They can't return until they have a written medical release.”

Jeffers said two of the workers were last in the restaurant June 24 and the third was last present June 25.

Since then, the facility has undergone two complete cleaning procedures using disinfectant approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to Jeffers.

“It's an hours-long process,” Jeffers said, adding these cleanings occurred June 25 and 28.

Aside from the thorough sanitization, Jeffers said the Cranberry Township restaurant is following corporate policy and cleaning with the CDC-approved disinfectant daily.

Workers are also screened for COVID-19 symptoms before starting their shifts. Those who don't pass the screening aren't allowed to work. Employees wear face masks at all times and practice social distancing.

“That's just standard procedure,” Jeffers said. “We're very vigilant.”

Other Olive Garden employees were notified of the presumed positive cases, Jeffers said.

Jeffers said customers who visited Olive Garden while the employees with the probable diagnoses were working would be notified of possible exposure if such a step was considered necessary by local health officials.

He noted in light of the pandemic, Olive Garden has begun offering paid sick leave for team members.

Jeffers said he didn't know if the three employees are related or if they're Butler County residents.

But he said the restaurant is operational and able to serve customers. He said that's in part due to Darden Restaurants' total quality department, established years ago to work with health professionals across the United States and monitor CDC guidelines when it comes to public health and safety.

“Public health issues are not new to the restaurant industry,” Jeffers said.

The bottom line: Is Olive Garden safe for customer dining?

“Absolutely,” Jeffers said.

The Cranberry Olive Garden offers limited capacity dine-in services as well as curbside pickup and non-contact delivery, according to its website.

In previous correspondence with the Eagle, the Pennsylvania Department of Health Press Office said it can't comment on specific cases or clusters of cases.