Norovirus was identified as a source of a food illness outbreak among customers of the Beltline Bar, the Kent County Health Department reported Wednesday, April 2.

Three cases tested positive for norovirus, confirming investigators’ suspicions about the reports of gastrointestinal illness linked to the restaurant at 16 28th St. SE, said Lisa LaPlante, spokeswoman for the health department.

The health department reported March 26 that it had received dozens of calls from people who said they became sick after eating at the restaurant. By Wednesday, April 2, 145 complaints were reported.

The Beltline Bar staff did a thorough cleaning to disinfect the restaurant after hours, LaPlante said.

If someone has norovirus, if possible, the person should use a separate bathroom from others in the home, she said. The bathroom should be cleaned with a solution that includes a ¼ cup of bleach to a gallon of water – typical cleaning products do not kill norovirus.