Colfax man claims denial of service at local store for potential COVID-19 connection

The store owner says they do not have a list of community members who may be connected to COVID-19 that they won't serve.

The Clinton County Health Dept.

Says denying people service because of private health information could lead to problems.

Tested for coronavirus.

News 18's anna darling talked to the man and to the owner of the food mart to get both sides of the story.

"we're being ostracized and treated like this because we decided to make a conscious decision for our community" rick watt and his wife live several minutes away from the colfax food mart, where rick's wife worked, but quit over the weekend.

"friday night she says my throat is sore.

She works in a public place and has underlying issues.

They said you need to get tested and we want you to isolate for 10 days of until the negative test" she got tested on monday, and their whole family is isolating together until the results come back.

On saturday, watt says he needed gas from the food mart in order to make the 20 minute drive to frankfort to get supplies for their quarantine.

"i tried to get the ten dollars worth of gas just to get to town the lady was like you can't be in here, i was like can you just take my ten dollars and i'll go get my gas, i don't need to be in here."

Rick's wife says as an employee, she was told names of people suspected to have coronavirus and their family members and not to serve them.

"i understand you're afraid to put your mask on and go into a store, you have that right, absolutely.

You don't have the right to deny people service because you think they might be around someone with covid" randy dhillon is the owner of the colfax food mart.

I talked to him off camera.

He says they don't have such a list, but they do have the right to refuse service to anyone.

There are multiple signs outside the store saying that customers are not allowed in the store if anyone in their household has tested positive.

He emphasized to me that they are just trying to operate safely.

Rodney wann with the clinton county health department takes issue with the language "not allowed in the store".

He says this is border line discrimination based on hearsay, since people's health is private information.

The fear is that stigma will grow around coronavirus causing people not to get tested, leading to the spread of the disease.

Anna daring news 18 a twin lakes student has tested positive for the coronavirus..

According to superintendent debbie metzger,