Mahomet Jimmy Johns to reopen after employee tests positive for COVID-19

Mahomet Jimmy Johns will reopen Wednesday after closing once staff learned that an employee had tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee was at an “unofficial prom” on June 13 that has led to 10 COVID-19 infections. The event was private and not held in association with the Mahomet-Seymour School District.

“As soon as we found out that she was at that party in question, we told her to go get tested,” owner Patrick Wampler said. 

Once the result came back as positive, Wampler heeded the advice of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department, closing the store down and telling all employees who worked during the same time as the infected employee to get tested.

Wampler planned to close Mahomet Jimmy John’s doors for a week, but after a deep cleaning, he believes they will get to reopen Wednesday.

“I haven’t been in contact with her; I haven’t actually been in the store and a couple weeks,” he said. “I’m going to open the store and we’re going to get some of our surrounding stores in Tuscola and Champaign to get some staff here. We hope to get open and operational while we wait for people to get their test results back.”

Wampler said that the employee who tested positive had worked two shifts since the “prom.” The employee had not worked at a counter or window position, so her direct contact was solely with fellow employees.

Since March, Jimmy Johns has put COVID-19 precautions in place, including wearing masks.

“We’ve been constantly washing hands, following proper guidelines, and we’ve got hand sanitizers in the store,” Wampler said.

He added that if a group of employees test positive for COVID-19, there may need to be additional measures put into place, but at this time he believes that following the guidelines stated by CUPHD will allow for them to move forward.

“I hope that way we can stay serving the serving the community in a safe way,” Wampler said. “Our priority number one is keep staff and customers safe.”