COVID-19 Causes an Increase in Consumer Drive-Throughs

COVID-19 has made it difficult for consumers to eat inside restaurants, causing a huge increase in the use of drive-throughs nation-wide. 

Are fast-food businesses suffering financially because they are unable to use the dining areas, or are they still thriving because of the increased number of customers using drive-throughs?

 “During 2020, through the grace of God, we were able to thrive and grow,” said Marc C. Schuh, Owner of a Chick-Fil-A in Covington. 

As an example of the kinds of tactics fast-food outlets are doing, a Chick-Fil-A in Covington have team members walk next to cars with iPads and take orders. 

“At CFA, because we have so many customers using the drive-through we have learned how to take orders outside much better,” said Kailey Henry, a Chick-Fil-A employee and Green River student. 

Inside, CFA team members are working hard to get food to customers as fast as possible. Although they all wear gloves and masks, working together can make it hard at times to stay socially distanced. Delivering food quickly is not the only thing employees like Henry are concerned with. Not all customers feel the same in regard to COVID-19 and health precautions. 

“It is interesting to see different customers reactions to COVID-19. Some customers don’t care and don’t have masks, but some have both masks and gloves trying to be extra careful,” Henry said.

Delivering food in a timely manner is not the only thing employees like Henry are anxious about. Health precautions have gone up significantly and customers are having new ideas of what food safety means. People want to see that the people who touch their food have proper gloves and masks. This is no longer a preference issue. 

“Everyone is somewhat paranoid because we are so close together. Although we all wear gloves and masks, working together can make it hard at times to stay socially distanced,” Henry said.

If you get sick – even just a cold – you are required to stay at home until you can take a test stating that you are COVID-free. Henry got a cold, but even though she had no COVID symptoms she was out of work for three weeks. Before this pandemic if you got a cold, you would maybe stay home for a few days and then come back to work. It is very different now. 

Many things have changed because of what has happened this last year. We have all had to change our habits. It is hard to think of what it was like before but maybe that is for the better. Maybe after this is over we will have learned from this experience and bettered ourselves.