KFC and Pizza Hut in China have launched a hastily contrived but legitimate-sounding ‘contactless delivery’ protocol to help allay fears of contagion during the current Coronavirus epidemic there. It’s a pretty simple process, but it apparently means a lot to diners and employees…
After standing back the prescribed 10 feet, a Pizza Hut delivery person motions a
customer to move in and grab his order. KFC China is also using
this method to perform ‘contactless’ deliveries.
Doctors still aren’t sure just how the Coronavirus strain that originated in Wuhan, China a few weeks ago is transmitted, but folks across that vast land aren’t taking any chances. In some cities, it’s mandatory to wear a surgical mask when out of doors. Almost 2 dozen Chinese inland cities are ‘locked down’ in the attempt to stem the spread of the potentially deadly disease. At least two new hospitals have been constructed in a matter of days to treat Coronavirus patients exclusively.
Fast Food delivery service impacted
You’d think that the Fast Food sector would be feeling the pinch, what with people trying their darnedest not come in contact with others who might be infected. But not KFC and Pizza Hut. Both chains have instituted a ‘contactless’ delivery service especially for customers who don’t want to leave their homes any longer than necessary, and want to avoid contact with others.
“The health and wellbeing of our employees and customers is our top priority, and the innovative new services will help reduce the risk of person-to-person transmission of the Coronavirus and protect our employees and customers,” KFC and Pizza Hut parent company YUM China said in a statement.
How they do it
The procedure is pretty simple: Customers can request contactless delivery when ordering and paying online. There’s even a special button in the phone app for that. They’ll be contacted by their delivery person to arrange a location for the hand-over. When the delivery person arrives at the agreed-upon spot, he or she will wait for the customer to appear at a distance before removing the food from the keep-warm container. The DP will then move off at least 10 feet before the customer moves in and grabs the goods. It appears to be a sound system for avoiding contact.
Delivery personnel are required to wear masks at all times, and to disinfect their hands and keep-warm containers after every delivery.
My take
It sounds like a good idea, all round. The housebound virus-fearers get food without fear of contamination by the delivery people, and the deliverers need not fear contracting anything from the customers. It is virtually cost free and should take only a few seconds more time than the traditional front-door hand-off routine. But there’s one drawback for the deliverers: it has to be playing Hell with the doorstep tips!
~ Maggie J.