Big Mac at a distance: Dutch McDonald's trials virus-proof restaurant

Big Macs delivered on meal trolleys, hand sanitizers at the entrance and designated waiting spots to separate customers could become a feature of McDonald's restaurants in the Netherlands when they are allowed to reopen. | Above: A customer follows arrows on the floor of a prototype location of fast food giant McDonald's in Arnhem, Netherlands.

In a trial at a restaurant in the city of Arnhem, McDonald's has been looking for ways to maintain social distancing when the coronavirus lockdown is relaxed. | Above: A customer stands in a taped-off space inside a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

"We have tried to figure out how to keep our customers and employees safe, while maintaining a restaurant atmosphere," McDonald's Netherlands spokeswoman Eunice Koekkoek said. "These are drastic changes, but we hope to make them in a way that customers don't notice them too much." | Above: A man takes a number at a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

Restaurants, bars and other public places in the Netherlands have been closed since March 15. As of Friday, 39,791 coronavirus cases had been confirmed with 4,893 deaths. | Above: A woman uses a touch screen at a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

But new infections have been dropping, prompting calls to loosen the lockdown after its current deadline of May 19. A decision on whether to reopen restaurants and bars is expected around May 12, but Prime Minister Mark Rutte has ruled out a return to normal. | Above: A customer receives her order inside a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

If they do reopen, they will have to keep customers and staff at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart to avoid a new wave of infections. McDonald's says it could introduce table service, with burgers and fries wheeled to customers on trolleys from which they can pick up their orders. | Above: A view inside a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

Other new features would include hand-washing stations at the entrance and a host behind a plastic screen showing customers their place in line. | Above: An employee cleans a touch screen at a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

Many restaurant owners in the Netherlands fear social distancing will simply put them out of business. But McDonald's expects its new set-up will work at 180 larger restaurants out of its 252 franchises in the country. Above: | An employee wearing protective gloves handles an order at a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

"On average this will allow us to serve around 66% of our normal number of customers," Koekkoek said. "We don't expect reopening to be allowed before June. But even then, we will move in steps. Readjusting 180 restaurants is a tall order." | Above: A customer cleans his hands before entering a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

About three quarters of McDonald's 39,000 restaurants worldwide were operational as of Thursday, including almost all its nearly 14,000 outlets in the United States, where drive-throughs are common. | Above: A customer receives her order inside a prototype location of McDonald's in Arnhem.

Customers wait outside on social distancing markings at a prototype location of fast food giant McDonald's for restaurants which respect the 1.5m social distancing measure, amid the coronavirus outbreak, in Arnhem, Netherlands.

A view inside a prototype location of fast food giant McDonald's in Arnhem, Netherlands. The sticker reads "Wave from a safe distance".

An employee handles table service numbers for clients inside a prototype location of fast food giant McDonald's in Arnhem, Netherlands.. Text reads "1.5 metre distance".

An employee waits for clients inside a prototype location of fast food giant McDonald's in Arnhem, Netherlands.