Six McDonald's drive-thru restaurants will reopen in Dublin next week.
The exact locations of the outlets have not yet been confirmed.
McDonald's restaurants closed in Ireland two months ago due to the Covid-19 emergency.
"I can today announce we will pilot reopening six drive thru restaurants in the Dublin area on Wednesday, 20th May and we will confirm the locations next week," Paul Pomroy, CEO of McDonald's UK and Ireland, said in a statement on Tuesday.
"In early June, we will then begin our next phases of reopening our drive thrus in towns and cities across the UK and Ireland. We will keep you updated as restaurants open in your area."
McDonald's reopening drive thrus
McDonald's is taking a number of measures to ensure the safety of its employees amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
"From 20th May, we will also cap spend in our drive thrus at €30 per car and I would encourage you to pay by contactless payment methods wherever possible," said Pomroy.
McDonald's drive thru, Swords, Dublin. Picture credit: Emil Sutak / Shutterstock.com
Those new safety measures will include having fewer employees in the kitchen and service areas. Restaurants will also work from reduced menus over reduced hours.
Employees will be checked with contactless thermometers on arrival at work and perspex screens will be installed in key locations of kitchens and service areas.
Staff interacting with customers will wear gloves and face masks, though it will not be the types worn by healthcare workers. They will also receive additional training on cleanliness practices, including increased frequency of handwashing and extra sanitising of touch points around the restaurant.
"When your local drive thru does reopen, it will be different," Pomroy added.
"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. 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.
"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."
Picture credit: Mick Harper / Shutterstock.com
