Mall’s food court closes after 150 illnesses were reported

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky mall has closed its food court to sanitize after a health department received more than 150 reports of illnesses that were mostly from people who had eaten at the food court.

News outlets reported Monday that the Fayette Mall food court has closed at the recommendation of the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department to allow the area to be sanitized. The play area will also be sanitized, and tenants in the food court will be required to do the same.

Last week, the health department began receiving illness reports that increased over the weekend. Commissioner of Health Dr. Keith Humbaugh says they believe the illness is a viral “stomach bug” that’s transmitted person-to-person and isn’t a food contaminant.

The food court and its restaurants will open when they complete the cleaning and comply with the recommendations.

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