A popular east-end Chinese restaurant known for its dim sum will remain closed until inspectors ensure that a salmonella contamination linked to the eatery has been properly dealt with.

On Saturday afternoon, a staff member at the Ruby Chinese Restaurant told ctvtoronto.ca that the business was "under renovation" and wouldn't immediately reopen.

When asked if business would resume this week, the worker didn't offer a firm date and said that staff were busy doing "clean up."

He declined to give his name.

On Friday afternoon, Toronto Public Health decided that the restaurant would have to remain closed as inspectors investigated the salmonella outbreak.

Earlier in the week, TPH officials shut the restaurant down "due to a number of violations of the Food Premises Regulation."

TPH said that there were unsafe sanitation and food handling practices on the premises, which is located at 1571 Sandhurst Circle near McCowan Road and Finch Avenue East.

Inspectors say that there was salmonella exposure at the restaurant from September 12 through to September 20. However, food that was tested after these dates showed no sign of the bacteria.

According to Toronto health officials, there were 22 confirmed cases of salmonella and 15 probable cases on Friday afternoon.

Three people had to be taken to hospital, including an 80-year-old man who died because of dehydration. The link between his death and the outbreak remains under investigation.

On September 29, inspectors were called to check out the restaurant after two complaints were filed. However, they found no infractions at that time.

But when inspectors returned for a random check on Wednesday, Oct. 7, they spotted violations and shut the business down.

According to TPH:

  • Salmonella symptoms normally develop 12 to 72 hours after exposure
  • Symptoms can include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever
  • People with compromised immune systems can die from the infection
  • Infants, pregnant women and the elderly are also at greater risk of serious illness
  • In most cases, people are sick for three to seven days and recover without treatment