KFC is closing dining rooms in 40 corporate restaurants in Florida due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in the state.
The quick-service chain is also advising franchisees to consider reclosing dining rooms in states with hot spots such as California, Florida, Texas, Arizona. To date, the chain has reopened dine-in service at 5% of KFC restaurants in the U.S.
"Due to the continued escalation of COVID-19 cases in Florida, we have taken the step to close dining rooms in our 40 corporate-owned restaurants there," the company said in a statement sent to Nation's Restaurant News. "We have advised our franchise locations in the hot spot states of Florida, Texas, Arizona and California that have reopened to consider closing dining rooms for dine-in seating at this time."
The company said it made the decision Monday to voluntarily reclose dining rooms in Florida as part of its "continued efforts to prioritize the health of our team members, customers, and the communities where they live and work."
On Sunday, Florida recorded the highest single-day total of new coronavirus cases by any state since the start of the pandemic with more than 15,000 new infections, according to the New York Times, which has been keeping a COVID-19 database since the onset of the outbreak. The previous record was 12,274 cases recorded in New York on April 4.
California reclosed indoor dining across the state on Monday due to rising cases. In Florida, Miami-Dade County shut down indoor dining again effective July 9. Bars are also shutdown in Florida, prompting business owners to sue.
KFC restaurants in Florida, as well as around the U.S., remain open for drive-thru, delivery and carry-out.
Earlier this month, McDonald’s Corp. halted the reopening of more dining rooms in the U.S. as coronavirus cases began to spike.
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