He learned on Monday that the seating areas would be closed. “I was really bummed,” he said. Now he plans to work from home, where it will be easier to get distracted by the refrigerator, the television or the dog.

But Mr. Frank, 63, said he understood the reason for the change. “All demographics visit Starbucks, and it’s just an incubation ground for anything that might be going around,” he said. “So I think it was a prudent decision on their part.”

The coffee chain, which has more than 10,000 company-owned outlets in the United States and Canada, is not alone.

Tim Hortons, the popular Canadian fast-food chain, announced that it would close its dining areas beginning Tuesday to focus on takeout, drive-through and delivery service. Dunkin’ said on Monday that it was reducing hours, removing tables and limiting its service to drive-through and carryout at its restaurants in the United States.

On Monday, the governors of Connecticut, New Jersey and New York announced broad restrictions on public life in those states: Casinos, gyms and movie theaters will be closed starting Monday evening, they said, and bars and restaurants will be limited to takeout and delivery.

Some Starbucks locations in high-traffic areas, like malls and campuses, will be temporarily closed entirely, the company said.

“As we all know, the situation with Covid-19 is extremely dynamic and we will continue to review the facts and science and make the proactive decisions necessary to protect our partners, customers and communities,” said Rossann Williams, the executive who oversees the company’s 200,000 workers in the United States.