Cornelius country club reopens after several members tested positive for COVID-19

CORNELIUS, N.C. — Channel 9 has learned that a country club in Cornelius has since reopened after it said several members tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Peninsula Club off Jetton Road sent a letter to members a week ago saying there were four confirmed coronavirus cases within the membership, and that the club needed to temporarily close.

The general manager said they reopened Thursday, and everything has been businesses as usual.

“There’s not been anything bad said about anyone who wanted to leave. They respected everyone’s wishes,” employee Tyree Watkin said.

The general manager told Channel 9 that all employees got tested while the club was closed and every test came back negative.

According to a letter sent out to members a week ago, those who tested positive had visited the pool, tennis and golf areas, and the restaurant.

“I feel like there should maybe be a 14-day quarantine for that area since reported cases were found there,” a nearby resident said.

The club president also wrote in the letter that they called a meeting of club staff to inform the employees of the positive cases and the possibility of exposure.

“Unfortunately, more then half of the staff walked away, deciding not to work for the next few days. These employees were uncomfortable with the situation,” the letter stated.

The Peninsula Club decided to temporarily close The Veranda, the swimming pool and all other club facilities for cleaning and sanitizing.

“I was really just upset reading ‘unfortunately,' why is that unfortunate? I think that’s great that they’re able to say we feel uncomfortable," a resident said.

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As coronavirus cases continue to climb in North Carolina, people Channel 9 spoke to Sunday said they are hoping both businesses and residents start social distancing more.

Doctors said one of the main reasons for the spikes in cases is that fewer people are keeping their distance.

Mecklenburg County has been using a platform from the University of Maryland to track social distancing data and found it’s declining.

“I hope if we all do our part the numbers will go down again, and we won’t have to go backwards," a resident said.

Mecklenburg County was scheduled to move into Phase 3 of reopening in two weeks, but because of the spike in cases and lack of social distancing, health officials said that isn’t likely.

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