As eateries in New York, San Francisco, and a few other U.S. cities and counties require proof of COVID-19 immunization to dine indoors, several fast-food businesses are simply closing their seating areas — a move that could hurt their sales.
After New York City began requiring customers over the age of 12 to verify they had had at least one dose of the vaccination in order to eat indoors, the burger restaurant White Castle closed the seating sections of its more than 20 New York City locations in September.
Restaurants are forced to rely only on carry-out, drive-thru, and delivery orders, which are often more profitable. That means companies can save money on labor by not having to clean dining areas or check clients' evidence of vaccinations, and instead have an extra person work in the kitchen or at the counter.
