A WOMAN has contracted Covid after going to a pub where a barmaid claims she was told to work with coronavirus symptoms.

It comes after Rachael Baylis said management at The Walrus, in Ship Street, Brighton, would not let her go home even though she was feeling extremely unwell during her shift last week.

Rachael later tested positive for Covid - as has an estate agent who says she was served by her during a Christmas party on Tuesday 14 December.

The woman, who asked to stay anonymous, said all four staff members who attended the party caught the virus - including her.

She told The Argus: "You expect when you're going somewhere that they would be sensible and if anybody has got symptoms, they would be responsible enough to say for them not to come in and not pose a risk to the public - you should feel safe when going into somewhere."

The woman went to a party in the basement of the pub, where there were no windows.

She explained how she saw Rachael looking stressed - but thought that it could be because she was dealing with a large party.

"I can understand why she came in - if your boss is saying you must come in or you'll be fired, it's your livelihood, so you'd feel like you'd have to come in," she said.

The estate agent said that her bosses have complained to The Walrus directly.

She added: "Luckily, December is really quiet for us, but if it had been around a busy period, it could have been even more catastrophic than it is.

"We could have been going into people's houses and then giving it to them without knowing it."

Rachael says she was sacked after refusing to come to work the following day.

City Pub Group, which runs The Walrus, has promised to investigate her claims.

In a statement released last week, a spokesman said: "The City Pub Group is aware of allegations that the company’s well-established Covid-19 safety protocols were not followed at our Brighton pub The Walrus, in relation to isolation arrangements for one of our team members.

"As a company we place paramount importance on the health and welfare of our colleagues and customers, particularly during the ongoing pandemic challenges. This takes precedence over any other considerations."

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