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Agence France-Presse

US fast food giant McDonald’s said on Wednesday that it had closed all of its restaurants in Hubei, the Chinese province at the epicentre of a virus outbreak that has spread beyond the country’s borders.
The coronavirus outbreak traced to the provincial capital Wuhan in central China has killed more than 130 people and infected nearly 6,000 people across the country.
That has prompted factories and businesses to close, airlines to cancel flights to the country and governments to discourage travel to China.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski called the situation “fluid” and “concerning” and said the chain decided to close all of its restaurants in Hubei, which amount to “several hundred”.


But 3,000 outlets elsewhere in China remain open, he said during a call to discuss the company’s fourth quarter financial results.
“Right now, as you would expect, our priority’s really on our employees, on our customers, doing everything we can to make sure that they are safe and taken care of,” Kempczinski said, adding that the company would establish a special team to deal with the outbreak.
China accounts for 9 per cent of all McDonald’s restaurants but only about 4 to 5 per cent of its sales and 3 per cent of its income, he said.
But commenting on the potential financial hit from the virus, he said “its actual impact on our business is going to be fairly small, assuming, again, that it stays contained to China”.


There are now 16 countries that have confirmed cases of the pneumonia-like illness, from the United States to the United Arab Emirates.
American coffee chain Starbucks announced on Tuesday that it had closed half of its cafes in China, and Disney shut down its theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
The McDonald’s announcement came as they reported healthy fourth quarter results that showed sales growing worldwide by 5.9 per cent with revenues of US$5.35 billion, compared to the final three months of 2018.
The earnings were the first since chief executive Steve Easterbrook left the chain after a “consensual relationship” with an employee that violated company policy.

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Coronavirus pandemic

McDonald’s closes all branches in China’s coronavirus-hit Hubei province

A McDonald’s restaurant in Beijing in 2017. The US fast food giant has closed all of its restaurants in Hubei. Photo: AFP

China coronavirus: World Health Organisation again considers declaring global emergency after ‘deeply concerning’ cases

A child plays on a swing in Wuhan, the epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic. Photo: AP

WHO executives, from left, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) with Michael Ryan, Executive Director, WHO Health Emergencies Programme, and Maria van Kerkhove, Head of the Outbreak Investigation Task Force, during a press conference about the new Coronavirus, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020. Efforts to contain a new and deadly virus have intensified Wednesday, as quarantine facilities are set up, many airlines have suspended or significantly cut back flights from China and efforts continue to find a medical remedy. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP)

China faces bigger epidemic than Sars in ‘complicated and grave’ coronavirus outbreak

All regions of China have now reported cases of the new coronavirus. Photo: AFP

China coronavirus: major airlines pull plug on services to Hong Kong and mainland as US considers stopping all flights

A traveller arrives at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: EPA-EFE

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World

United States & Canada

China


CEO Chris Kempczinski calls situation ‘fluid’ and ‘concerning’ as he announces decision to shut hundreds of restaurants
China accounts for 9 per cent of all McDonald’s restaurants, 4 to 5 per cent of its sales and 3 per cent of its income



CEO Chris Kempczinski calls situation ‘fluid’ and ‘concerning’ as he announces decision to shut hundreds of restaurants.


McDonald’s closes all branches in China’s coronavirus-hit Hubei province

CEO Chris Kempczinski calls situation ‘fluid’ and ‘concerning’ as he announces decision to shut hundreds of restaurants China accounts for 9 per cent of all McDonald’s restaurants, 4 to 5 per cent of its sales and 3 per cent of its income

CEO Chris Kempczinski calls situation ‘fluid’ and ‘concerning’ as he announces decision to shut hundreds of restaurants

China accounts for 9 per cent of all McDonald’s restaurants, 4 to 5 per cent of its sales and 3 per cent of its income