McDonald's will close its locations across the U.K. and Ireland amid the coronavirus pandemic, the fast food chain announced Monday.

The restaurants will close starting 7 p.m. Monday at the latest.

“This is not a decision we are taking lightly, but one made in the well-being and safety of our employees in mind as well as in the best interest of our customers,” McDonald's said in a statement shared on Twitter.

An update from McDonald’s UK and Ireland — See you soon pic.twitter.com/43moFRrWRR — McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) March 22, 2020

McDonald's said it will work with local community groups to responsibly distribute food and drinks from its restaurants in the coming days.

“Thank you to our brilliant employees for their hard work during this incredibly challenging time,” McDonald's added. “We look forward to seeing you all again as soon as it is safe for us to reopen.”

In the U.S., some McDonald's locations have closed down for dine-in service as many states have restricted restaurants to only offer take-out and delivery options.

The virus is rapidly spreading across the globe. There’s more than 5,700 confirmed cases in the U.K. and 906 cases in Ireland, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.