Wetherspoons reveals 66 workers have tested positive for coronavirus with outbreaks reported at 50 of its 861 pubs

• Chain confirmed 28 of the workers have already returned to pubs after isolating
• The company hasn't revealed which of its 861 pubs have been affected 
• 32million Brits have crammed into Wetherspoons pubs since they reopened
• Wetherspoons boss claims chain has invested £15M into safeguarding its pubs

Wetherspoons has revealed that 66 workers across 50 of its pubs have tested positive for coronavirus but insists they are still safe to visit.  

The chain confirmed that 28 of the 66 employees who tested positive have already returned to work after self-isolating.

Two pubs had up to four employees infected and six have confirmed two while the remaining 40 have reported just one worker testing positive for Covid-19.   

JD Wetherspoon, which employs 43,000 people across its 861 pubs said that the vast majority of its establishments have recorded no positive cases. 

The company hasn't revealed which pubs have been affected.   

Last month, three staff at the North and South Wales Bank in Wrexham, North Wales, tested positive but it remained open. 

The firm said most of the reported cases have been mild or asymptomatic and 28 of the 66 employees have already returned to work, after self-isolating in accordance with medical guidelines. 

It follows a rise in new coronavirus cases, with a further 3,330 positive cases recorded in the UK on Sunday. 

A whopping 32million Brits have crammed into Wetherspoons pubs since they reopened on July 4. 

Pubs don't have to close after finding a positive test result unless they are made to do so by local health protection officials.   

Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin recently shot down claims made by a disease expert that pubs are 'dangerous places to be' during the pandemic. 

He blasted: 'The situation with regard to pubs has been widely misunderstood.

'It is clearly not the case that pubs are ''dangerous places to be''.'  

Mr Martin also claims the chain has invested £15million into safeguarding its pubs and implementing measures such as screens between tables and reducing capacity.  

It comes as the pub giant revealed that trading was 'very quiet' over the weekend, before the Government's tightened restrictions on social gatherings came into action this morning. 

Mr Martin shrugged off claims that larger groups might rush to the pub before the implementation of the new 'rule of six'.

The new rule means people could face fines of up to £3,200 if they are involved in social gatherings of more than six people.

Mr Martin said: 'Trade was very quiet over the weekend, as the public weighed up the evidence about the alleged dangers of going out - Wetherspoon sales were 22.5 per cent below the equivalent Saturday last year.'

Trade groups, including the British Beer & Pub Association, said the new rule will halt the recovery of hospitality firms without extended financial support for the sector.

Mr Martin told investors on Monday that he believes the safety of pubs during the pandemic has been 'widely misunderstood'. 

Last month, the group said like-for-like bar and food sales were down 16.9 per cent for the 44 days to August 16, compared with the same period last year.

Mr Martin said the sales slump means it expects to post a loss for the year to July 26. 

The news comes as the 'rule of six' law came into force today - with public gatherings now limited to just six people indoors and out.

Home Secretary Priti Patel today warned Brits will get criminal records if they break the rules. 

Home Office officials have said that anyone who refuses to pay the initial £100 on-the-spot fine will be arrested and taken to court.

Pubs, bars and restaurants must also take the details of punters or risk £1,000 fines.