CONCORD – Fat Katz, the Hudson restaurant health officials said last week is tied to at least 17 cases of COVID-19, was charged Monday with violating provisions of state-issued pandemic orders, and has been assessed a $2,000 civil penalty, according to Associate Attorney General Anne Edwards.

Among other provisions, Edwards wrote in a letter to Fat Katz Food & Drink owner Tom Vaughan, the restaurant violated the guidelines involving the hosting of karaoke by taking it inside without consulting officials.

The restaurant had been given permission to hold karaoke outside, but according to Edwards, Vaughan chose to bring the performances inside after neighbors complained about the noise, and because the weather was getting colder.

The violations are, Edwards wrote, “are, at the very least, reckless,” and in addition, “jeopardized the health and safety of both the public and your employees … .”

Late last week, state health officials announced the 17 COVID cases connected to Fat Katz, and said they were conducting contact tracing procedures to try and identify any additional potential infections.

They urge anyone who was at Fat Katz between Oct. 2-9 to seek testing as soon as possible.

Of particular concern, officials said, were cases in which an individual “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.”

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

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