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Daily Mirror

Business

Emma Munbodh

McDonald's to reopen 39 drive-thru restaurants today after coronavirus lockdown

McDonald's is set to reopen more UK and Ireland restaurants today - allowing customers to pick up orders at drive-thru branches as part of the chain's phased reopening strategy.

The fast-food giant said a number of stores will reopen at 11am on Wednesday, May 20, in line with government guidelines and with strict social distancing measures in place.

It comes after the restaurant chain reopened 15 pilot restaurants in the South East of England last week through Deliveroo - with a limited menu and spending cap of £25 per order.

"We will have a £25 order cap as we adjust to smaller teams and social distancing in our kitchens.

"I want to reiterate the restaurants, Drive Thrus and their car parks remain closed, we will only be serving food via Uber Eats this week," a statement said.

From Wednesday, a further 30 pilot restaurants in the UK and Ireland will reopen, offering a drive-thru service only.

"Moving in step with government guidelines, we plan to reopen all our Drive-Thrus by early June. We will keep the restaurant locator on our website updated as our Drive Thrus reopen over the coming weeks," a statement said.

A spending cap of £25 will be applied to all transactions (Getty)

The restaurant chain reopened 15 restaurants last week (PA Archive/PA Images)

In stores, a number of safety measures have been put in place to protect staff and customers, as well as a £25 to help speed up transactions.

All staff will have their temperatures checked on arrival at work, with perspex screens fitted in key locations, including in kitchens.

"When your local Drive Thru does reopen, it will be different. Our service will not be as quick as you might be used to, as we adjust to smaller teams and social distancing in our kitchens," a statement said.

"We expect there will be some queues for some of our busier sites and our restaurants will look different, with Perspex screens at our Drive Thru windows and employees wearing protective equipment.

"I ask that you continue to be supportive of and patient with our restaurant teams as we slowly and safely return. We are asking all of our employees to adapt to how our restaurants now work, and will only reopen at a pace that enables them to work safely.

"As we get accustomed to the new processes and procedures, we will look to reopen more restaurants, for longer hours and reintroduce more menu items. But only when I am confident we can do so whilst maintaining the new procedures we have introduced for the protection of our people."

All McDonald's branches will be offering a limited menu once they reopen to the public.

Breakfast items will no longer be on offer, while wraps and milkshakes will also be off the cards.

However, its nine signature burgers will remain, with the Big Mac and McChicken Sandwich still on the menu.

There will also be limited options for vegetarians, with its Spicy Veggie wrap and Vegetarian dippers both unavailable.