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Fast-food giant Mcdonald’s has announced it will shut all its UK restaurants by the end of tomorrow as the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic continues to spread.
The chain, which has more than 1,200 locations in the UK, announced the news today on social media.
‘Best interest of our customers’
“This is not a decision we are taking lightly, but one made with the well-being and safety of our employees in mind, as well as in the best interest of our customers,” the company wrote.
“We will work with local community groups to responsibly distribute food and drink from our restaurants in the coming days.”
McDonald’s also thanked its ‘brilliant employees’ for working during the outbreak and said it would open ‘as soon as it is safe’ to do so.
It has not been confirmed whether staff will still be paid during the close.
Coronavirus
COVID 19 is thought to have originated in a ‘wet market‘ in Wuhan, which sold live animals including marmots, birds, dogs, pigs, badgers, rabbits, bats, snakes, wolf pups, cicadas, scorpions, bamboo rats, squirrels, foxes, salamanders, turtles, crocodiles, and civet cats.
Coronaviruses are a common type of virus that causes mild illnesses, such as the common cold, but can cause more serious problems like severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
Like flu, coronaviruses cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
You can find out more about COVID 19 here
