Health officials keep emphasizing the important role social distancing plays in helping slow down the spread of the coronavirus.
But when you’re a restaurant with customers who are just craving for a bite, how do you make sure that they maintain the correct distance from each other?
One McDonald’s branch in the UK came up with a simple but ingenious method so that customers can properly distance themselves whilst waiting for their turn.
Ollie Smith, 22, was about to each lunch at the McDonald’s in Cambridge on March 19 when he spotted the clever system.
A series of boxes marked with red tape and spaced two floor tiles apart dotted the area in front of the counter.
Smith, an apprentice aircraft engineer, said: “Nobody was told to stand in the boxes, but you knew what the intention of the boxes was for.”
While the inside of the store was empty, there was a “packed” drive-thru.
Smith added: “I couldn’t believe how real this was becoming.
“I felt bad for the staff who were working extremely hard on the drive-thru.”
The company had announced the closures of all seating and children’s play areas but promised to keep hand-washing facilities and toilets operational where possible.
Instead, customers will have to make do with the takeaway, delivery, and drive-thru options.
McDonald’s UK and Ireland boss Paul Pomroy said of the move: “The well-being of our employees, customers and suppliers remains of the greatest importance to us and these changes are designed with you all in mind.
“We have not taken this decision lightly and will continue to review this over the coming days.”
Furthermore, the fast-food chain also announced that they would delay this year’s Monopoly promotion until such time that customers can be certain they can claim their prizes.
The statement went on: “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.
“I apologize for any disappointment caused by this update and I look forward to Monopoly returning to our restaurants as soon as possible.”
The company also announced that NHS workers, health and social care staff, and emergency services personnel will also be receiving free drinks as a “thank and reward” gesture to those who are on the frontlines of the pandemic.
In a statement, McDonald’s said: “We want to use our UK and Ireland footprint to thank, reward and support the health and care workers doing an incredible job in difficult and unprecedented times.
“This offer is a token of our appreciation for the tireless work that these professionals are carrying out in the communities in which we operate.
“From today we are offering free drinks for those workers in our restaurants and drive-thrus, on sight of their work pass.”
Replaced!