Will Fast Food Restaurants Close for Coronavirus?
In light of the coronavirus outbreak, food safety has been a hot topic. While experts do still believe it’s generally safe to get food delivered (with some precautions, of course), consumers are understandably cautious about going out to eat. In response to this, many of your favorite fast food restaurants have changed their operations or policies.
Below we’ve listed all of the information we’ve been able to gather about whether fast food locations are open and if there are any changes to their operations. Keep in mind this situation is changing rapidly, and though we will update as much as possible, it’s always best to check with your local stores as individual franchises can vary.
Additionally, you should also be paying attention to guidelines in your city or state, as many have barred restaurants from operating anything but their delivery services.
Taco Bell
Taco Bell locations are open and the company will be equipping its restaurants to go drive-thru or delivery-only wherever necessary. You can read more about it here.
McDonald’s
The chain’s locations are open. McDonald’s said in a statement, it’s closely watching the situation and will be disinfecting high-traffic areas (like touch screens) more often, as well as making sure order packaging remains safe. You can read more about it here.
Burger King
Burger King locations are open, but the chain is prepping its delivery partners to handle increased delivery. You can read more about it here.
Arby’s
Arby’s locations remain open, but the chain said on its website that it is taking the “proper precautions.” You can read more about it here.
Wendy’s
The chain’s locations are open. It said it is monitoring the situation closely and will be reinforcing proper hand-washing techniques, consulting experts, and increasing deep cleans. You can read more about it here.
Dunkin’
Dunkin’ locations are open. It announced that it would be implementing an “internal global task force” that is meeting daily to discuss the coronavirus situation. The chain’s locations will also be deep-cleaned more frequently. You can read about it here.
Dairy Queen
The ice cream chain postponed its free cone day in light of the outbreak but its locations remain open. You can read more about it here.
Subway
Subway locations are open. Employees are increasing the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing its restaurants as well as giving new cups for each drink refill and nixing dine-in sandwich baskets and trays. Read more about it here.
Sonic
Sonic is increasing how frequently its employees clean high-touch areas and expanding its sick leave policy. You can read more about it here.
Domino’s
The chain is offering contactless delivery options as well as expanded paid leave and increased cleaning. You can read more about it here.
Chipotle
Chipotle locations are open, but the chain is also offering free delivery through the end of March and introduced “tamper-evident packaging.” It did not specifically cite coronavirus as its reasoning for doing so. You can read more about it here.
KFC
KFC’s locations are open but it is also offering free delivery through the end of April. You can read more about it here.
Popeyes
Popeyes waived its delivery fees (though it did not mention coronavirus as a reason) and has increased its cleaning. Read more about it here.
Starbucks
Starbucks announced it will be temporarily making all of its U.S. and Canadian stores to-go only. There will be no inside or outside seating. Some locations could be temporarily closed in areas of high coronavirus impact. You can read more about it here.
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A announced a temporary closure of its dining rooms to help limit person-to-person contact. Your local Chick-fil-A will offer service through its drive-thru, and depending on its location may also offer takeout, delivery, or mobile order options. You can read more about it here.
Shake Shack
The burger chain will temporarily switch to a to-go only model in all of its U.S. locations. You can read more about it here.
&Pizza
&Pizza will be offering unlimited pizza to employees and their immediate families for the next 30 days, raise the hourly wage by $1 for all shop-level staff, expanding its sick leave policy, offering free pizza to hospital workers, among other things. You can read more about it here.