The Real Reason Chick-Fil-A Added Handwashing Stations

Chick-fil-A, the chain known for its fanatically loyal fans, is of course classified as an essential business, since there's no way the nation could survive another few weeks or months deprived of those amazing chicken sandwiches. While its dining rooms may be closed, Chick-fil-A is still serving a steady stream of customers via drive-thru and curbside pickup as well as delivery. In fact, the chain has even seen fit to add a new menu option at this time, Family Meals, that may be the perfect solution once social distancing cooking loses its thrill (after all, it's hard to get creative when there's nothing left on the store shelves).

While Chick-fil-A wants everyone to continue to "Eat Mor Chikin" (theirs, preferably), they also want to make sure that all of their customers and employees stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic. To that end, they have put in place a number of health and safety measures. According to a Chick-fil-A press release from company president Tim Tassopolous, the aim is to implement "chainwide guidelines that go above and beyond FDA requirements" when it comes to sanitation.

As soon as COVID-19 was recognized as a serious public health threat in the U.S., Chick-fil-A put in place precautions including requiring team members to wash their hands at least every 30 minutes and each time they handle cash. Workers also have access to Purell wipes and are constantly sanitizing all food prep equipment.

The latest step that Chick-fil-A has taken, however, is to install handwashing stations at all of its drive-thru and curbside pickup locations. That way employees working outside can make sure their hands are as clean as they can be, since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation is for soap and water over hand sanitizer for maximum germ killing.

While all of these steps are ones that Chick-fil-A employees are taking in order to keep from spreading infection to customers, there is one thing that customers can and should be doing as well. When using the drive-thru, you should be swiping your own credit or debit card. Yes, doing your own swiping may require some arm-stretching, depending on how close far you've parked and the height of your car window, but uncomfortable though it may be, it's for safety's sake! Or you could always skip the contortions and just use mobile ordering and mobile pay through the Chick-fil-A app. 

Enjoy your delicious Chick-fil-A chicken, but please keep your germs to yourself!