Two popular Steinbach restaurants have temporarily shut their doors to the public. In recent days, both Boston Pizza and Smitty's have had employees test positive for COVID-19.

Management at both establishments determined it was in the best interest of their customers to cease operations until the situation was sorted out.

Boston Pizza’s website confirms the closure stating the doors will remain shut from the period of August 1 to August 7, at which point the closure will be reassessed.

A patron who was visiting the restaurant for lunch on Saturday took to Facebook saying, "(five) minutes after getting our meal the waitress came and informed us that the restaurant was now closing and would be until further notice because an employee had tested positive for COVID... The employed person that was positive had not been there since Monday."

A sign on Boston Pizza’s door says "we are temporarily closed until further notice."

A sign posted on doors at Smitty's tells of the closureA sign posted at the Smitty's in Steinbach says it is temporarily closed.

A similar sign greets would-be customers at the entryway to Smitty's. "To ensure the health and safety of our guests, staff, and community, Smitty's is temporarily closed," it reads.

On August 1, Smitty's was notified that one of their staff members had tested positively for COVID-19. Management confirms that the employee has not been inside the building since Monday, July 27, and is currently self-isolating. Contact tracing is underway.

In a Facebook post, Smitty's stresses their quick, responsible approach to the issue: "We immediately closed the restaurant, and all team members will be tested while we await direction from the local health authorities. In the meantime, we will remain closed to perform a professional disinfect of the restaurant."

Smitty's thanks patrons for their patience and says they look forward to welcoming back their guests when it is "100 per cent safe to do so."