Photo courtesy Debbie Goetz, Your Community Paper

It has become de rigueur for restaurant owners to post their Covid-19 policies to assure the dining public of all the steps they’re taking to keep their staff and customers safe. Standard bullet points include requiring masks, gloves for staff, distancing between tables, frequent sanitation of touch points, and taking the temperature of all employees prior to their shift.

Steve Gunter, owner of the Tap Room at Dubsdread, is taking another proactive step: He’s testing every staff member once a week – at no cost to the employee – and he’s inviting members of the public to come in for a free test, too.

Tests are conducted in the ballroom at Dubsdread Monday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. Tests for the public are on a first come, first served basis. Reservations are required and can be made at this link. Gunter said the company administering the tests can handle 300 people.

The medical company, Alliance of Physicians Against Covid-19 (APAC), offers tests for both the presence of Covid-19 with a throat swab (instead of the more invasive nose swab) and for coronavirus antibodies, using a finger prick.

Gunter says Covid-19 test results have been coming back reliably within 72 hours and often as quickly as 48 hours. Antibody results are promised in 24 hours but have been ready in 12 to 15 hours, he said. Samples are tested using area hospitals and labs.

A free test for the virus, results faster than the state is promising, and a cocktail and good food at the Tap Room after. Win, win, win.