What Sheffield residents are saying as fast-food chains close during pandemic

Over the last week we have seen the closure of Nando's, KFC, Costa Coffee, Subway and Pizza Express.

Boris Johnson announced the closure of nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, gyms and leisure centres on March 20.

Asking them to close "as soon as they reasonably can" to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Although this announcement did not include takeaways, many are still closing.

The latest closure was announced by the UK’s largest bakery chain, Greggs, who will close stores this week.

A spokesman from Greggs said: "It is now clear that to protect our people and customers we need to go further and temporarily close our shops completely.”

And, Sheffield residents agree with the need to close stores.

Subway becomes latest chain to close after McDonald’s, Nando’s and Costa shut

Writing on The Star’s Facebook page, Geoff Wilcock said: “So they should, unfortunately, they’ll have no customers with the lockdown.”

Another reader, Maria McCall said: “It’s only a sandwich shop, there are more important things in life than being upset because you can’t get a sausage roll.”

However, Laura Gill-Wilkins said: “This upsets me more than McDonald’s closing.”

McDonald’s chose to close its drive-thru on March 23, which caused roads to become “gridlocked” around the fast-food restaurant as they shut up shop.

Sheffield residents are now calling on people to not go outside or hoard food.

Barbara Horton, a reader said: “Stay home and think of others, hopefully one day if people stay in we will all be able to go out again safely and enjoy food again. It’s selfish people who are desperate for a McDonald’s that put other people's lives at risk.”

Dave Jameson, writing to The Star on Twitter, said: “The government says we need to social distance so the not very bright in society get together.”

Another reader Joanne Mori, said she hopes that the lack of takeaways will encourage people to cook at home, she said: “If there’s one thing that might come out of this it might be that we’ll all start cooking again instead of relying on takeaways as a necessity.”