Fast-food giant McDonald’s is planning to close the dining rooms in all of the company-owned stores across the United States as the coronavirus outbreak continue to threaten the public health across the globe.
Company-owned locations represent 5% of its roughly 14,000 U.S. restaurants in the United States. While dining rooms are closed, the fast-food chain clarifies that customers can still order their food and drinks for takeout or delivery or via the drive-thru.
McDonald’s management is also asking all of their franchisees to follow the same measure as a part of the social distancing strategy in fighting against the fatal virus.
“Franchisee leadership completely supports the decision to adhere to social distancing guidelines and ensure that large groups of customers are not gathered together inside our restaurants,” Mark Salebra, chair of McDonald’s National Franchisee Leadership Alliance, said in a statement.
A similar move has also been implemented by other fast-food chains across the country, such as Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, and Shake Shack, as a response to the restrictions ordered by governors to limit restaurant and bar operations.
