The news around the COVID-19 outbreak is constantly changing, but information about food safety and how to keep yourself healthy is crucial right now. Here is a comprehensive list on the foods you should be stocking up on during this period of social distancing, as well as information about your local grocery stores’ changing hours, an explanation of “no-contact delivery,” and a guide on how to help your community and its businesses throughout closures.
Waffle House is known for being open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the chain has closed down hundreds of its restaurants which makes this a code red on the unofficial “Waffle House Index.”
Waffle House has been updated their followers on the number of closures. At the time of publication, 418 locations are closed and 1,574 are still up and running. Waffle House is a staple in the south of the United States, but the chain has locations all over the nation.
The Waffle House Index is an unofficial measure of how serious a natural disaster is. Due to its relevance in southern states, Waffle House restaurants are well-equipped to remain open during disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes. The Waffle House Index uses green to indicate what locations are still up and running, yellow for those serving a limited menu due to low supplies or power, and red for full closures, according to MSNBC.
Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) unofficially references the Waffle House Index. According to an NBC affiliate in South Florida, FEMA uses the Waffle House Index to see what areas need special attention during natural disasters.
Even the closure of one Waffle House is significant, so with 418 and counting going fully red, it’s a testament to how seriously restaurants are taking the COVID-19 pandemic. To keep up with which Waffle House locations are closing, you can check their Twitter account and to see how other chain restaurants are responding to coronavirus concerns, reference our running list.