Coronavirus closes Starbucks in Sacramento, elsewhere. Drive-through, delivery still open

Starbucks has closed its company-operated stores in the United States and Canada for at least two weeks to stem the spread of the coronavirus, but is keeping open its drive-through and delivery services.

The coffee chain had kept its cafes open for take-out service. But in a notice posted on its website Friday, Starbucks said it could no longer offer that option as the COVID-19 pandemic worsens.

“The magnitude of managing through this situation is the single biggest challenge many of us have faced in our lifetime,” said Rossann Williams, executive vice president, in the notice.

The closure will last at least two weeks. The company said it will keep open some cafes “in and around hospitals and health care centers.”

Starbucks said about 60 percent of its stores have drive-through windows, including about 45 in Sacramento County. It wasn’t known how many of its Sacramento stores deliver.

It said it would continue paying employees for the next month, even if they stay home.

This story was originally published March 21, 2020 at 11:42 AM.