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Reuters) - Starbucks Corp <SBUX.O> said on Friday it will close
most of its company operated cafes across north America for two
weeks, limiting its services to drive-throughs, to help stem the
spread of the highly contagious coronavirus.
"Let's be real. Lattes aren't 'essential'," Rossann Williams,
president of U.S. company-operated and Canada businesses, said
in a letter. "But in times of crisis, the government asks
convenient food and beverage outlets to remain open when
possible for pickup, Drive Thru, or delivery."
Exceptions to the closure would be made for cafes serving in or
around hospitals and health care centers, she said.
Starbucks, which owns almost all U.S. stores, said its licensed
partners would make independent decisions about whether to close
their stores, but said it would pay all store partners for the
next 30 days, regardless of that decision.
The move ramps up efforts by the world's largest coffee chain to
increase social distancing, expanding closures beyond the
universities, malls and high risk areas it announced several
days ago.
As the virus spreads at a rapid pace across the United States,
cafe and restaurant operators have shut their doors or limited
services to delivery and take-away.
New York state, Illinois and Connecticut on Friday all followed
California in directing residents to stay at home in the most
sweeping social distancing measures yet imposed.
The unprecedented restrictions, impacting more than 75 million
people, or nearly a quarter of the U.S. population, have closed
most workplaces and require residents to remain inside except
for trips to grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations and other
"essential businesses."
The coronavirus has infected nearly 14,400 people across the
U.S. and the death toll currently exceeds 200.
(Reporting by Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; editing by Jane
Wardell)
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