Every McDonald's restaurant north and south of the border will close tonight.
In a statement the company says that it has become clear that maintaining safe social distancing whilst operating busy takeaway and Drive Thru restaurants has become increasingly difficult.
It's led to a decision to shut every restaurant in the UK and Ireland by 7pm today.
Paul Pomroy, Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s UK & Ireland said;
"We have not taken this decision lightly and know that our restaurants have been playing an important role in the community providing hundreds of thousands of free drinks to frontline health and social workers and emergency services personnel."
The fast food giant says it will be working with community groups to distribute food from the restaurants to those most in need.
While frontline health workers and emergency services personnel will get free food today if they show their work pass.
Meanwhile Krispy Kreme is the latest food company to announce it's closing.
See you soon 🍩 pic.twitter.com/3KnoYosFW2
— Krispy Kreme Ireland (@KrispyKremeIRL) March 23, 2020
The donut company, which has a shop in Blanchardstown, is temporarily shutting all of it's UK and Ireland outlets at 6 o'clock today.
Staff will be paid as normal.
