McDonald’s on Friday announced it will require customers to wear masks inside all 14,000 of its restaurants across the United States, becoming the latest firm to make the requirement in recent days.
McDonald’s said in a news release it “will ask all customers to wear face coverings when entering our U.S. restaurants effective August 1,” noting that more than 1 million CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases have been recorded in the past two weeks. It said that about 82 percent of its restaurants are in states or locales that require face coverings for customers and workers.
“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. As a result, the most recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reiterates face coverings are an effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” according to the chain.
Employees will receive extra training to handle customers who don’t want to wear a mask.
“Additionally, we will provide training for our restaurant staff to ensure they are prepared to address this new policy in a friendly and positive way. We also will re-share resources for our and our franchisees’ employees who want to revisit de-escalation training,” the firm wrote.
Customers who enter a McDonald’s restaurant without a mask will be offered one, but if they refuse to wear it, they will be asked to stand at another spot away from other presumably mask-wearing customers and will receive their orders there, according to the firm.
The Chicago-based company joins CVS, Target, and Walmart in requiring customers to wear a mask inside locations.
In the same announcement, McDonald’s said it will pause reopening dining rooms for another 30 days as CCP virus case numbers persist.
Other food chains such as Starbucks and Chipotle have also begun using new rules in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus, also known as the novel coronavirus.
Starbucks also advised staff on how to handle customers who don’t wish to wear a mask.
The chain reportedly sent around tips and talking points to employees before the mask rule went into effect earlier this month, and said employees were advised to tell customers who don’t want to wear them to wait outside in their vehicles for their orders and offer them a glass of water. Employees are also asked to give masks to customers who don’t wear them.
