Motorists queued for hours to get a drink at Costa drive-throughs this morning, sparking fears people are ignoring lockdown measures as more high street chains reopen.
Tailbacks stretched around the block at takeaway chains in Edinburgh, Wakefield and Glasgow today as drivers waited to get their coffee fix.
At the weekend, eager customers queued for more than a mile to get a coffee at a branch in Snowhill Retail Park in Yorkshire as it reopened after more than a month on Saturday.
But it has led to a furious backlash from key workers, who claim people venturing out for takeaway food and drinks are ignoring warnings and pleas from the government and NHS staff to remain at home.
This comes as fast food giants including KFC, McDonald’s, Five Guys and Burger King move to gradually opening restaurants, leading to a deluge of orders and lengthy queues as delivery drivers wait in line.
Drivers were seen queuing for a coffee at Costa Drive Thru, Cameron Toll, Edinburgh this morning
Staff members were face masks were serving customers trays of coffee at the Edinburgh branch
At the weekend 12 delivery only and 17 drive-through stores re-opened in towns and cities including Croydon, Edinburgh (pictured), Glasgow, Leeds, and Newcastle
In other developments in the coronavirus crisis today:
- Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announced a package of support worth almost £3billion to help universities weather the coronavirus crisis;
- A smartphone app to trace the spread of coronavirus will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week before being rolled out more widely later this month;
- A new ‘fast and accurate’ coronavirus antibody test has been developed by scientists in Edinburgh, although the company fears the NHS could miss out amid interest in Europe for the machines;
- Heathrow Airport has warned travellers could face queues a kilometre long to board flights;
- Former Government chief scientific adviser Sir David King has assembled a group of experts to look at how the UK could work its way out of the lockdown in response to concerns over the ‘lack of transparency’ coming from the Sage group of advisers;
- Rail unions have today been accused of trying to stymie Britain’s recovery while holding the country to ransom after they said it was ‘premature’ to open up the country’s public transport network when the lockdown eases
Four Costa Coffee branches re-opened in Manchester, Bristol, and Mansfield – two delivery only, two drive-through – on April 24, a month after the lockdown began.
And on April 2, a further 12 delivery only and 17 drive-through stores re-opened in towns and cities including Croydon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, and Newcastle.
Some Costa Coffee branches have been open inside hospitals to serve NHS staff through the lockdown. But the decision to run a total 33 stores across Britain indicates that Costa Coffee is one of many chains seeking to kick-start trading.
But the move has sparked a row among social media users, who have been left divided over the push to open takeaways.
James Gallivan shared photos of the Wakefield branch on Facebook, writing: ‘Just been up to Snow Hill for some shopping from Iceland.
‘We had to Queue for 10 mins just to get onto the retail park to only see the whole queue was for Costa Coffee!! On way out the Queues had got even worse, right back to The Vine Tree (Capri) roundabout!!!
‘The road was in chaos, a police car couldn’t even get through at one point!
‘Seriously people of Wakefield give your head a shake if a coffee is that important to you, WE ARE ON LOCKDOWN!!!!!
‘Carrying on like this we will never get rid of this Virus, pure madness!!!!!’
Another social media user added: ‘Costa should be shut down again. The lockdown has NOT been lifted.’
The UK Government pursued a lockdown after scientists produced models warning that half a million people could die with the coronavirus if no action was taken.
There are concerns that the decision to shut down a huge portion of the UK economy has brought the country to the edge of an economic crisis more severe than the 1930s Great Depression.
Economists have estimated that the lockdown is costing Britain around £2.4billion per day, while a Bank of England official recently warned that Britain could be facing the worst economic contraction since 1920-21 – and possibly for three centuries.
Other companies which have moved to limited store reopenings or delivery-only services include Five Guys, Nando’s, KFC and Burger King.
KFC has launched an investigation after pictures emerged of delivery riders ignoring social distancing measures at its recently-opened Filton restaurant in Bristol
A member of staff wearing a face mask and gloves is seen directing cars at the Burger King drive-through in Havant, their first branch to reopen
Costa Coffee CEO Jill McDonald told the Daily Mirror: ‘Last week we made the decision to reopen two Drive-Thru lanes and two stores for delivery only in line with the latest Government advice.
‘The safety of our team members and customers is our number one priority and ahead of these stores re-opening, we put in place new social distancing guidelines, enhanced hygiene procedures and are providing teams with PPE.
‘We have been really pleased with how well our stores teams have been able to adapt to our new ways working, allowing us to serve great coffee, as safely as possible.’
Ms McDonald continued: ‘We have also received some great feedback from our customers and key workers taking advantage of enjoying a well-deserved coffee break whilst on essential journeys to and from work.
‘We will be increasing the number of Drive-Thru lanes and stores open for delivery via Uber Eats from May 2.’
McDonald’s said it will reopen 15 restaurants for delivery only on JustEat and UberEats, with the locations of restaurants being announced this week.
The fast food giant will not be serving breakfast and will return with a limited menu and shorter opening hours from 11am and 10pm.
McDonald’s will bring in perspex screens and floor markings, non-medical grade face masks for staff and social distancing measures for delivery drivers.
All employees will be asked to confirm they are fit and able to work, and bosses will use contactless thermometers with temperatures taken on arrival at work for every shift.
McDonald’s furloughed 135,000 staff when it shut up shop temporarily in March.
Under government rules, food firms are allowed to operate as takeaway and delivery outlets under lockdown.
Pret A Manger recently announced plans to partially reopen as pressure grows for an exit plan from the lockdown ravaging the economy. Their shops will open near hospitals and GP surgeries for delivery and takeaway services only.
But Greggs has postponed reopening 20 stores over fears of overcrowding.
The takeaway bakery chain temporarily shut all of its 2,050 branches last month to protect customers and staff after the Government ordered all non-essential shops to close.