McDonald's to Require Face Masks in U.S. Restaurants -- 2nd Update
July 24 2020 - 4:09PM
Dow Jones News
By Heather Haddon
McDonald's Corp. says it will require all U.S. customers to wear
masks in its stores beginning next month, joining Walmart Inc. and
other companies that decided that face coverings are needed to help
prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The fast-food restaurant chain joins a growing number of
businesses, including Starbucks Corp. and major U.S. airlines in
introducing mask requirements that go beyond local safety
guidelines. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. said Friday that it
requiring all customers to wear masks in its 2,670 restaurants. The
burrito chain has reopened most of its restaurants for limited
on-site dining.
McDonald's said it would make masks available to customers who
don't have them upon entering one of its nearly 14,000 U.S. stores,
according to a company letter written by Joe Erlinger, McDonald's
U.S. president, and Mark Salebra, head of the National Franchisee
Leadership Alliance owners association, that was viewed by The Wall
Street Journal.
There is widespread scientific and medical consensus that face
masks are critical in slowing the virus's spread. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone wear a face
covering in public, especially indoors and when social distancing
isn't possible.
McDonald's executives said that nearly 82% of its U.S.
restaurants are in states or jurisdictions that now require facial
coverings for the public entering inside businesses, but decided to
take up the stepped up move to further protect the public.
Customers who refused to wear a mask will have their order
expedited and served in a pickup area away from other
customers.
"It's important we protect the safety of all employees and
customers," they wrote.
Many businesses, including Costco Corp., Apple Inc. and Kroger
Co., have already adopted mandatory mask rules for their customers,
as well as longstanding requirements that their employees also wear
masks. Some businesses have taken it upon themselves to set their
own masks requirements amid differing rules across states about
wearing face coverings in public. Workers have been on the front
lines of implementing mask requirements at times when customers
have resisted.
U.S. airlines began requiring customers to wear masks in May,
and over the last month airlines have tried to step up enforcement,
pledging to ban passengers who refuse to comply at least until the
pandemic passes.
Messrs. Erlinger and Salebra said that McDonald's staff will be
trained on how to deal with customers who may refuse to wear a
mask.
McDonald's also said Friday that it won't reopen any more U.S.
dining rooms for limited indoor service for another month. The
company said earlier this month that it would pause reopenings for
three weeks given the virus's ongoing spread. Chain operators have
generally supported the decision, as it has made their operations
simpler as they focus on drive-through and to-go sales. McDonald's
said it is making divider panels available to restaurant owners to
try to help with social distancing in kitchens and ordering
areas.
Write to Heather Haddon at heather.haddon@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 24, 2020 15:54 ET (19:54 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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