Covid-19: McDonald's closure announcement sparks drive thru queues

Today's announcement by McDonald's that it is to temporarily close all its restaurants due to the coronavirus outbreak on both sides of the border from today sparked queues at many of its branches.

Last Wednesday, McDonald's announced that it was closing its seating areas to prevent the spread of coronavirus and only drive thru and takeaway services were available.

The power of ‘branding’! #McDonalds are closing all their stores in Ireland and UK later tonight, so naturally, there was a queue at the drive-thru!
I guess if I was a kid, not knowing if the world might end tomorrow, for my last meal, yep, I’d ask for a last ‘Big MAC & fries’. pic.twitter.com/Cuc7pcRnDB

— Brian Nolan. Storyteller. Fun Walking Tours (@GalwayWalks) March 23, 2020

Today it went a step further by announcing that all restaurants in Ireland and the UK are closing this evening to protect staff and customers.

Only down the road in Drogheda they had the same que for one last #McDonalds pic.twitter.com/WFmC0BAk6m

— Dundalk News (@DundalksNews) March 23, 2020

All outlets closed at 7pm, sparking a last-minute rush at many of its drive thrus.

In Ennis, Gardaí were called to help with traffic management after queues of cars backed up onto a main road outside a McDonalds outlet there.

Last supper at #mcdonalds. #CoronaIdiots #LockdownNow #StayAtHomeSaveLives pic.twitter.com/MRcBPF1XVn

— Malik Walton (@Cameramal) March 23, 2020

A number of other outlets such as Supermacs, Nandos and Subway also shut this evening.

McDonald's says that it will work with local community groups to responsibly distribute food over the coming days.

March 23, 2020 - McDonald’s closes all 1,350 of its stores in UK and Ireland in a bid to prevent further spread of coronavirus.#mcdonalds #coronavirus #covid_19 #socialdistancing #documentaryphotography #photojournalism #reportage pic.twitter.com/H82EE0eeMF

— Kieran Riley 📸 (@photogriley) March 23, 2020