The Washington Street branch of US Bank reopened Thursday after closing

abruptly Wednesday afternoon when an employee showed flu-like symptoms.

"We sent that person off to get a test for the flu and the test was negative," said Steve Dale of US Bank media relations in Minnesota.

"In the meantime, we decided to close the branch and clean it for the safety of the employees and customers. It turned out to be nothing," he said.

Only one employee was tested but others who worked around that person were sent home, leaving the bank below its minimum staffing level, Dale said.

Early Wednesday afternoon, a sign was posted on the branch’s window stating, "As a precaution to protect our customers and employees, we are temporarily closing this facility. Our drive-up is open and if you need further service, Port Angeles branch is open."

A van from Management Services Northwest Inc. could be seen parked outside while two employees, wearing gloves and, often, masks too, used an industrial carpet cleaner inside the building.

The Ferndale-based company provides cleaning, maintenance and landscaping services.

Neither the Clallam County Health and Human Services Department nor Sequim Police Department was contacted by the company regarding the closure.

An employee in the drive-through on Wednesday referred questions to Dale, as did employees at the company’s Port Angeles branch.

Dale emphasized last Thursday that the closure did not mean the bank was going out of business.

He also said the last thing US Bank wanted to do was create a panic.

Reach Brian Gawley at bgawley@sequimgazette.com.