The popular takeout restaurant Mica’s Kitchen has closed for the rest of the week as a voluntary COVID safety precaution. The owner and a staff member tested positive for COVID on Wednesday, April 27th.

The Vashon Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) has helped the owner, Michaella Olavarri, make a plan for re-opening her business. Fortunately, based on case investigation interviews, the MRC believes the takeout restaurant operation presents only a low risk of community spread. In addition to the risk of exposure at the restaurant, Michaella has been calling a few people who had contact with her and suggesting they watch for symptoms and get precautionary tests.

VashonBePrepared and MRC urge anyone who was in the restaurant beginning on Saturday, April 23rd, to be extra vigilant. Get tested right away if experiencing COVID-like symptoms. Those symptoms often resemble seasonal allergies or a cold. For example, they could include sore throat or runny nose. If home tests are being used, the MRC recommends testing three days in a row to ensure against a false negative.

You can help Vashon MRC continue to monitor COVID levels on the island by calling the helpline if you have a positive test: (844) 469-4554.

Mica’s Kitchen hopes to re-open for business as early as Sunday, May 1st. However, it will not reopen until all restaurant staff has tested negative and the appropriate quarantine time has elapsed based on MRC recommendations.

“I have been blessed with amazing community support as we have struggled to survive this pandemic. We have just re-opened after the awful burglary and vandalism so this will be extra difficult,” said proprietor Michaella Olavarri. “It’s a challenge, but we are so grateful to Vashon. Nothing is more important than keeping everyone safe from COVID.