The Butler Chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul reopened its food bank Monday after closing for almost a week over coronavirus concerns.

The organization closed its food bank last Tuesday after learning a volunteer’s close relative contracted COVID-19. Officials from the nonprofit reopened the food bank Monday after consulting with the state’s Department of Health, according to Jerry Harrison, president of the Butler chapter.

“There’s no rule book for this kind of thing so we weren’t sure what to do,” Harrison said. “They didn’t see any problem in opening up again.”

He explained the Department of Health made its recommendation after learning the volunteer had self-quarantined herself for two weeks leading up to the food bank closure after coming into contact with the infected relative. Harrison said the volunteer returned to the food bank during that period and the organization decided to close the food bank after the volunteer told them about the possible exposure.

“We decided to close anyway because you can’t be making those people sick. We weren’t going to take the chance and possibly have any problems with our clientele,” Harrison said. “The average age of people in there is 72. We have volunteers there that are in their 80s. God bless them,” Harrison said.

Even before the volunteer self-quarantined, that person’s duties at the food bank were mostly isolated, thus limiting the individual’s contact with other people.

“The volunteer wasn’t directly involved with anyone in the food bank. (They weren’t) in direct contact with other people — worked a solo shift,” Harrison said. “One of those people that you never see that does work that quite honestly without (them) we’d be in big trouble.”

He added that operations at the food bank were business as usual starting Monday. However, all workers must wear masks, as well as clients coming in to pick up food. Anyone who doesn’t have a mask will be provided with one.

Additionally, Harrison said the food bank is observing hygiene recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by, among other things, disinfecting contact surfaces throughout the day and maintaining physical distancing between volunteers when possible.

In the meantime, the volunteer continues to be quarantined and is awaiting virus test results.

“It’s just a cautionary measurement,” Harrison said, explaining that the volunteer will be out for another two weeks. “We’ll continue to maintain the best practices for our people and clients.”