COVID-19 impacts the way consumers get their food

JACKSONVILLE AREA, Fla. — Right now bars across Florida are closed and restaurants are changing norms to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

In San Marco, it almost feels like a ghost town.

Tables that would normally seat groups of people are now empty.

Most restaurants in the area are limiting the number of people who can sit inside or they’re urging people to order their meals to go.

COVID-19 is impacting the way consumers get their food.

"We do miss it, you know the socializing because on Saturdays or when we have time together, we would go in and just enjoy that time and meet friends and what not," Monique Percenti said.

McDonald’s, Starbucks and Chick-fil-A are big chains that have decided to close their doors to in-store dining.

We checked out the Chick-fil-A over on Southside boulevard on Wednesday and noticed the parking lot was marked off with yellow tape.

In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, the fast-food restaurant is providing drive-thru service.

We caught up with Monique Percenti on Southside Boulevard picking up lunch for her daughter.

“My daughter she’s on Face Time and she loves Chick-fil-A. She has it every single day so she’s about to have her baby in about a month or so. So I try to keep that part of her life a little bit secure and not to be so afraid that she has to stay in the house all the time,” Percenti said.

Many restaurants are also turning to Uber Eats, Grubhub and DoorDash delivery services in order to make sure their customers are still able to order from their favorite restaurants.

In at least five states restaurants have been forced to close.

Some are turning to a virtual tip jar online to help pay servers out of work because of the COVID-19 outbreak. ​

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