Plastic barriers, contactless payments, and ultra-sanitized dining rooms — here are 13 ways fast-food restaurants could change forever due to the coronavirus pandemic

Erin McDowellJun 9, 2020, 22:34 IST

A McDonald's sign is pictured in Thornburg, Virginia, on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images

Going to your local fast-food joint may be a totally different experience as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Major fast-food chains like McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A have announced changes they'll be making to how they'll run their restaurants in the near future.
However, there are quite a few changes that could last long after the coronavirus pandemic has begun to wane.

Many fast-food restaurants have not made official announcements on when, or how, they will reopen their dining rooms.

However, possible strategies have begun to emerge, including sanitizing tables, frequent employee hand-washing, and asking customers to wear masks inside. Other changes will also be evident when you stop by your favorite fast-food restaurants, whether you're dining in or going through the drive-thru.

Here are 13 ways fast-food restaurants could change after the coronavirus pandemic.

Employees will be required to wear gloves and masks after restaurants reopen.

An employee at McDonald's hands a customer his credit card and receipt behind a special piece of glass for protection after taking his order. Michael Siluk/Education Images/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Customers will also likely be told to wear masks inside restaurants.

A McDonald's customer wearing a face mask and carrying a bag of food. T Sarah Photography/Shutterstock

Family-style meal deals could be here to stay.

Popeyes' famous chicken sandwich, which launched to much fanfare in 2019. Irene Jiang / Business Insider

Ordering kiosks or contactless payment could become more prevalent.

A man cleans the self-service ordering screen at the Shake Shack in Grand Central Terminal in New York City on March 16, 2020. Cindy Ord/Getty Images

Self-serve soda dispensers could be phased out indefinitely.

A person using a self-serve soda dispenser. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Social distancing measures like blocked-off booths and arrows may be in place long after restaurants reopen.

People stand in line for their order at a McDonald's restaurant in the Brooklyn borough of New York. AP Photo/Wong Maye-E

Dining rooms will be cleaned more frequently.

Wendy's dining room. Thiti Sukapan/Shutterstock

Some chains may offer hand-washing or sanitizing stations to employees.

A Chick-fil-A employee using a hand-washing station. Chick-fil-A

Play places will likely remain closed in the immediate future.

Chick-fil-A play place. jmac23/Shutterstock

Many fast-food restaurants without drive-thrus could close permanently.

In-N-Out burgers in a tray. Irene Jiang/Business Insider

Plastic barriers are likely to be the norm at drive-thru windows and counters where orders are taken.

A customer getting food in a McDonald's drive-through. Catherine Ivill/Getty Images

Drive-thrus could be busier than ever ...

Cars in a Chick-fil-A drive-thru. AP

... although, some customers may still prefer to get their meals delivered.

A person wears a protective face mask with a Shake Shack take-out bag on May 13, 2020, in New York City. Noam Galai/Getty Images

McDonald's, Amazon, H&M and more donate millions of dollars to racial justice organizations

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