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D.L. Hughley COVID Diagnosis Means ... Testing for Club Staff & Customers

D.L. Hughley's medical scare and subsequent positive COVID-19 test is triggering a major health inspection for the comedy club where he was performing.

A spokesperson for Nashville's Metro Public Health Department tells TMZ ... it's conducting a disease investigation of staff and customers in attendance Friday night at Zanies Comedy Club, where D.L. collapsed.

We're told the health department plans to conduct contact tracing ... getting in touch with everyone who was in the club to get them tested -- and ditto for anyone who had close contact with Hughley.

We're told everyone will be instructed to self-isolate for 14 days while their health is monitored daily by the disease investigators.

On top of that, we're told the Health Dept. has been in touch with Zanies since learning of D.L.'s positive coronavirus test to provide the club with guidance on cleaning and sanitizing.

We're told Director of Health Dr. Michael Caldwell has agreed to allow Zanies -- which has been temporarily closed since learning of Hughley's diagnosis -- to reopen Thursday after the venue has been thoroughly cleaned. An employee tells us the club already had a cleaning company come Sunday and wash the place top to bottom.

There's another catch too ... Zanies must comply with Public Health Emergency Orders for entertainment venues, including having the performer 15-feet away from the audience. In the video, it didn't look like D.L. had this distance on Friday night.

BTW, when the comedy resumes Thursday, Rob Schneider will take the stage for the first of 4 nights in a row.

So, Zanies will be open for laughs ... just at a distance.

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