Starbucks is "pausing the use of personal cups" due to coronavirus

Starbucks released an open letter updating its partners and customers across North America about what they are doing to prevent the spreading of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in their stores.

The Seattle-based coffee giant outlined the ways it is playing a “constructive role in supporting local health officials and government leaders as they work to contain the virus.”

These actions included temporarily suspending the use of personal cups and “for here” ware in its stores.

Anyone who brings in a cup or requests “for here” ware can still expect the 10-cent discount to be given, though.

Starbucks also said it has “increased cleaning and sanitizing for all company-operated stores” and added paid time to its partners supporting that work.

In addition to these measures, Starbucks has educated its store teams about how to “report and support” those impacted by the virus, and that includes decisions to close stores.

The company has also restricted all business-related air travel, domestic, and international through the end of March and “postponed large meetings across our offices in the US and Canada.”