HUDSON – State health officials said Friday they have identified at least 17 cases of COVID-19 associated with Fat Katz Food & Drink, a restaurant and lounge located in the 102 Plaza, 76 Derry Road.

The officials said that while Department of Health and Human Services representatives have conducted a contract-tracing investigation, which allowed them to identify and directly notify “known close contacts,” they strongly urge anyone who visited Fat Katz between Oct. 2-9 to seek testing as soon as possible.

Among the 17 cases identified so far are two that are of particular concern: One individual who “went to the establishment while aware of their COVID-19 diagnosis” and was “supposed to be on isolation,” and another who went to Fat Katz when he or she “was knowingly supposed to be on quarantine.”

Both of them, officials said, “potentially exposed others.”

Further, officials said, representatives of the Attorney General’s office have been notified, and are currently investigating allegations that Fat Katz committed “multiple violations” of the state’s food service guidelines.

According to the restaurant’s Website — which, along with its Facebook page, appears to have been taken down Thursday or Friday — Fat Katz is owned by Tom “Panda” Vaughan, who opened the eatery roughly two years ago in the space formerly occupied by Capri Pizza.

As the investigations continue, DHHS officials issued the following guidance and information on testing and quarantining:

“Whether or not you are experiencing symptoms, multiple testing options throughout the state are available to potentially exposed individuals.

For persons without health insurance or a primary care provider, testing is available and can be scheduled by calling 271-5980 or through completing the online form at https://business.nh.gov/DOS_COVID19Testing.

Guidance for self-quarantine is available at https://www.nh.gov/covid19/residents/documents/self-quarantine-covid.pdf.

Other options can be found here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/resources-guidance/testing-guidance.htm.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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