Washington restaurant temporarily closes after customers fall ill

Monical’s Pizza, located at the Cherry Tree Shopping Center in Washington, closed on Saturday after the Tazewell County Health Department received complaints of customers falling ill.

Nick Maggioncalda, food program lead for the department, said the first complaints came Friday night. Since then, the health department has received over 100 reports of illness.

The most common symptoms reported include diarrhea and vomiting, but Maggioncalda said individuals could also experience stomach cramps, chills and nausea. After an initial investigation, Monical’s Pizza closed voluntarily.

“The safety of our guests and employees continue to be our main priority,” the restaurant wrote in a Facebook post. “We appreciate your understanding as we work to do what’s best for the community.”

More:Here's why a Peoria BBQ restaurant is closing after over a decade in business

Maggioncalda said the closure gave the restaurant time to take precautionary measures such as cleaning and throwing away some inventory. He said Monical’s agreed to retrain employees on reporting symptoms, personal hygiene and hand washing.

Monical’s Pizza indicated plans to reopen on Tuesday, Nov. 29, according to Maggioncalda. He visited Monday and said the restaurant should be safe to reopen.

“Right now, it's really about making sure that they communicate effectively with their employees about what the health guidelines are,” Maggioncalda said.

He said the health department will continue to be in contact with Monical’s Pizza to ensure the restaurant is following procedures for employees correctly. The cause of the illness is still being determined.

More:Looking for the scoop on Peoria restaurants? Sign up for PJStar Dining

Maggioncalda said those who ate at the restaurant and have experienced symptoms can call the Tazewell County Health Department. Individuals can also fill out an online Foodborne Illness Complaint Form, and the department will follow up by phone.

“We're also doing phone calls for anybody who's contacted Monical’s,” he said. “Monical’s is very good about providing us their name and phone numbers.”

For those who have fallen ill, Maggioncalda said they should get medical care if necessary. He also stressed the importance of good hygiene and hand washing for everyone moving forward.

Connect with Cassidy Waigand by emailing her at CWaigand@gannett.com or by following her on Twitter at @justxaxwriter.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Washington pizzeria closes temporarily after illnesses