McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD), the world’s largest fast food restaurant chain, is again closing indoor seating areas or limiting hours of operation as the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreads.
McDonald's had temporarily closed indoor dining at nearly all U.S. locations in 2020, but it had reopened 70% by last month. The global restaurant chain said on July 28 that it was on track to open nearly 100% of its franchises by Labor Day - barring any COVID-19 resurgence.
But last week, McDonald's instructed its franchisees to re-close their dining rooms in areas where the Delta variant is rapidly spreading. McDonald's has recommended franchisees close indoor seating in areas where COVID-19 cases exceed 250 per 100,000 people on a rolling three-week average.
Top U.S. health officials said on Friday that U.S. cases of COVID-19 continue to rise amid the fast-spreading Delta variant. Deaths were up 11% and cases were up 3% over the past seven days nationwide, with hospitalizations up 6% over the past week to an eight-month high, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Drive-thru, carry-out and delivery have helped fast-food sales rise this year despite shuttered dining rooms. But sales went up further when indoor seating resumed.
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