The Drive-Thru: The coronavirus outbreak causes stores to change policies and some to temporarily close (2024)

This is Shoshy Ciment and I'm back with another week of The Drive-Thru, Business Insider's weekly roundup of retail and fast-food news.

Sadly, this will likely be my last week writing the newsletter because Kate just got back from Asia. I'll miss keeping you up to date on the retail world each Friday, but I'm super excited that Kate has returned from her trip safe and sound.

By the way, if you haven't yet, subscribe to The Drive-Thru here to stay on top of it all.

For the time being, the retail desk has been covering the coronavirus pandemic nonstop. This week, we've got a slew of coronavirus-related topics on The Drive-Thru, from store closures to options for your very own quarantine cuisine.

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Here's what you need to know.

As the coronavirus panic heightens, some companies, like Walmart, are reducing store hours. However, more US retailers are choosing to temporarily shut their stores.

Retailers on the growing list include TJ Maxx, Marshalls, JCPenney, IKEA, H&M, Zara, Victoria's Secret, and more.

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The impact on workers? In many cases, employees are being compensated for the lost shifts. The coronavirus pandemic has prompted changes to some companies' paid sick-leave policies for retail workers. In other cases, layoffs and furloughs are causing a crisis for workers who are being left without jobs. Read the full list of temporary closures here.

Kate has returned from her trip to Asia and is already back to landing fast-food scoops.

She got her hands on a recording of an internal McDonald's call where executives talked about lobbying the Trump administration to make changes to a bill that would impact the chain's paid sick leave policy.

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"We know that the funding mechanism and the repayment timing could cripple small-business owners," David Tovar, McDonald's vice president of US communications, said on the recording of the call.

"McDonald's supports the bill that would provide sick leave support to employees impacted by Coronavirus, and in fact, McDonald's and many of its franchise owners have already committed to offer those same benefits to potentially diagnosed employees," a McDonald's representative told Business Insider.

In the meantime, McDonald's restaurant owners are trying to curb toilet-paper theft by locking bathrooms . McDonald's chief supply chain officer, Marion Gross, told franchisees that they have to stop this practice, because they are required by law to keep bathrooms open at most locations.

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Stores across the US are changing their policies to accommodate concerns and changing shopping habits amid the coronavirus outbreak.

Several major retailers, including Walmart and Target, have designated specific shopping hours for vulnerable and at-risk guests. Plus, Costco is taking steps to limit the number of people in its warehouses at a time.

Additionally, stores like Target, Costco , and Walmart are placing limits on the number of in-demand items a customer is allowed to purchase.

For example, Walmart's purchase limits will apply to paper products, milk, eggs, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, water, diapers, wipes, baby formula, and baby food, the company said.

Costco even made the decision to ban returns in at least some stores on items like toilet paper, soap, and rice as people panic-buy amid coronavirus fears.

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This week's taste test is a little unique; it's the first part of Irene's new series, "Quarantine Cuisine."

From the confines of her apartment, Irene showed us how to make one of her favorite pasta recipes from mostly shelf-stable pantry staples.

As Irene put it, "It's simple, it's cheap, and it's delicious. Most everybody can make it, and most everybody will love it."

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Read about how to make the pumped-up pasta, here.

• In Vietnam, KFC has a new dragon fruit sandwich with a pink bun .
• Good news for Hershey , as the official coronavirus comfort food might be chocolate.
• An exclusive look inside a thriving sneaker "cook group."
• Independent bookstores across the US are in trouble as they close their doors to prevent spread of the coronavirus.
• Fast-food chains are emphasizing drive-thrus and shutting down in-store seating.
• You can get a free kids' meal from Burger King.
• CVS workers are demanding paid sick leave, face masks, and gloves.
• These chains are offering free delivery.
• Kroger employees are being given $25 worth of free groceries.
• In isolation, people turn to skincare .
• A corporate Costco employee died after testing positive for the coronavirus.

NOW WATCH: At its peak, Forever 21 made $4.4 billion in revenue. Here's what led to the brand's downfall and bankruptcy.

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See Also:

• The Costco corporate office stayed open even after the death of a worker with coronavirus. Now 2 more Costco corporate employees have tested positive.
• Here's the difference between an 'essential' business and a 'nonessential' business as states and cities announce coronavirus-related closures
• Costco is reportedly limiting the number of people allowed to shop in its warehouses at once and limiting purchases of in-demand items

SEE ALSO: Some Costco stores are banning returns on items like toilet paper, soap, and rice as people panic-buy amid coronavirus fears