Just as some McDonald’s franchisees finally got to reopen their dining rooms to customers for the first time in more than a year, they may be shutting down again.
Reuters reported that it has seen internal documents and memos indicating that McDonald’s will direct franchisees in areas with steadily escalating COVID cases to close dining rooms to customers again.
Many owners are already encouraging customers to wear face masks again while they eat inside their dining rooms.
McDonald’s franchises may close dining rooms again due to COVID
The report from Reuters notes that in places where COVID cases exceed 250 per 100,000 people — a level the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers a “high” risk of transmission in the community — McDonald’s restaurants may soon ban dining inside.
Currently, McDonald’s only recommends franchisees in those areas to “consider closing” dining rooms. The company had hoped that all franchisees would open their dining rooms again by Labor Day.
McDonald’s franchise locations across the country, as well as other fast food franchises, had to close their doors to customers when business restrictions were put in place in an effort to curb the spread of COVID.
Restaurants, in particular, are the hardest hit by these restrictions. But fast food franchises have been able to survive the pandemic due to their ability to serve customers in the drive-through window.
When restaurants were finally allowed to open their doors to customers in their dining rooms, many of them were challenged to do so due to the inability to find enough workers.
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