Popular fast food brand McDonald’s announced that they will be requiring their customers to wear masks on their US chains, which would take effect on August 1. The company is among the many nationwide retailers, like Starbucks, Target, and Walmart, to impose mask policies in their outlets and store premises.
Thou shall wear masks
McDonald’s further noted that majority of their American restaurants, accounting for 82 percent, are already in places where masks are already required in public settings, but they intend to ensure health safety of everyone, both their staff and store guests.
Why the mask
As per a letter collaboratively written by McDonald’s USA Joe Erlinger and National Franchise Leadership Alliance Chair Mark Salebra, it reads: “This public health crisis continues, with one million new COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks alone. At the same time, we’re learning more. The latest science suggests droplets have the potential to stay in the air for extended periods of time, increasing the risk of virus spread, especially from asymptomatic carriers.”
McDonald's will require customers to wear face masks at all of its U.S. restaurants starting Aug. 1.
Because face masks have become a subject of contention, the chain says it will help employees get "de-escalation training."https://t.co/c93W8DIE8Z
— NPR (@NPR) July 24, 2020
Further in the letter, the company intends to avoid conflict for people who refuse to wear masks. They said for customers who denies to put on facial covering, McDonald’s will have “additional procedures to take care of them in a friendly, expedited way.”
More McEfforts in curbing the virus
Not only are customers obliged to wear masks in their premises, they are also mandating personal protective equipment on their staff at all times. McDonald’s is also giving away training materials for those franchise owners who may want for their staff to revisit de-escalation.
They are also postponing for another month plans of reopening their dining rooms, which they have delayed before. Those which have opened their dining rooms, however, may proceed according to the guidance of their respective states.
Moreover, McDonald’s also emphasized that they “have developed a series of divider panels and retrofit barrier solutions for both front- and back-of-house.” The aim for this decision is to allow more orders while still complying with physical distancing measures. Erlinger and Salebra, however, highlighted that the creation of panels in stores is “an additional measure and not a replacement for consistent PPE execution or adherence to social distancing guidelines.”
The fast food chains have also modified over 50 of their processes and procedures that lead to the goal of keeping their stores safe, according to the letter. This have included limiting capacity of their restaurants and keeping their Play Places shut.