Yahoo Finance McDonald's to close all restaurant seating areas in coronavirus fight
All McDonald's restaurants in the UK and Ireland will only open drive-thrus, takeaways and delivery operations amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The fast-food chain will close all seating areas as of 5am on Wednesday, it announced.
It comes as the UK Government announced stringent new measures to fight the Covid-19 spread.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that the public should avoid all non-essential social contact as well as venues like pubs, restaurants and theatres.
In a statement on Tuesday, McDonald's chief executive Paul Pomroy wrote: "Our restaurants will remain open for as long as it is safe to do so.
"In the last 24 hours it has become clear that we need to temporarily change our operations to ensure the wellbeing of our employees and customers consistent with the Government's guidance on social distancing.
"Therefore from 5am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning all restaurants will close seating areas and temporarily move to being takeaway, drive-thru and McDelivery only."
An update from us. pic.twitter.com/89K8oDTChz
— McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK)
All restaurants will scrap dine-in operations, shut seating and close children's play areas, but toilets will remain open.
He added that all orders placed through Uber Eats and Just Eat would be "contact-free, with no physical contact between customers, employees and couriers, wherever possible".
Workers in the emergency services and health and social care sectors will receive free drinks on presentation of their work pass.
A McDonald's spokesperson added: "Given the unprecedented and unique situation and the need to contain any societal spread of Covid-19, currently if a company owned restaurant employee needs to self-isolate for 14 days we will pay them for this period, based on their average working hours.
"This applies to both those on guaranteed hour contracts and flexible contracts working in company owned restaurants.
"We are closely monitoring the situation and may review this as the Covid-19 response develops."
The chain's annual Monopoly promotion is being paused until later in the year, the company added.
Mr Pomroy said: "This year's prizes include a number of luxury holidays, European city breaks and cruises which will have all been impacted by current and ongoing restrictions on international travel.
"Following conversations with our suppliers and prize partners, we feel it is appropriate to delay the promotion until later this year."
Read more
EU leaders agree to close borders for 30 days to stop virus spread
