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Starbucks is beginning to work on returning to business as usual. As the coronavirus pandemic appears to hit its peak, the chain is preparing a plan to reopen 90 percent of its stores by June.
Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer made the announcement during an earnings call this week, according to Nation’s Restaurant News.
“As we begin the recovery process that requires ongoing monitoring to rapidly adapt and recover, we are well-adapted in our digital assets to expand service to customers and focus on the customer experience, beverage innovation and digital assets,” Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said during the call on Tuesday. “This [plan] allows us to regain the momentum we had prior to COVID. We expect to strengthen this competitive advantage through continued recovery […] and serve our community safely and with greater convenience.”
Starbucks will take advantage of its drive-thrus, delivery, and in-store pickup services as they attempt to reopen stores nationwide.
“Only 30 stores will open their cafes [at first] and in those 30 stores there will be no seating and we will monitor what happens [before we move forward],” Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer said during the call. “Then, later in the summer we’ll add curbside access to our stores. We’re managing what we’re learning and applying what we learn accordingly.”
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The coronavirus mainly comes from animals and a majority of those who were infected early either worked at or frequently visited the Huanan seafood wholesale market in Wuhan, according to The Guardian. The virus is similar to Severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (Mers).
The Wuhan coronavirus is transmitted from person to person through “droplet transmission.” That means an infected person can pass the virus by sneezing or coughing on another person as well as by direct contact.
While a majority of the cases have been detected in the United States and China — with more than 61,000 deaths in the United States — it has now reached many countries around the world. It has also been confirmed in Italy, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and many other eastern countries.
