McDonald’s responded late Monday to two protests by workers in San Jose and Los Angeles with a vow to make “important changes” in how its restaurants address health and safety during the coronavirus crisis.

Those plans include “starting wellness checks, increased cleanings and additional social distancing and hand-washing guidelines,” spokeswoman Lindsay Rainey said.

Additionally, the company will be “sending non-medical grade masks to the areas of greatest need” and “making gloves available to crew members, in addition to rigorous hand washing routines.”

In the Bay Area, the first of a week’s worth of strikes started at 7 a.m. Monday at the McDonald’s on First Street near Brokaw Road in North San Jose.

Among those walking the picket line was Maria Ruiz, 46, who has worked for McDonald’s for 16 years. Her daughter is employed by the fast-food company too.

She says she can’t really afford to take time off from the job — but she can’t afford not to either, what with the coronavirus threat.

“I’m thinking about my bills, my rent. But I’m thinking about my life too. We don’t have masks, sanitizers,” said Ruiz, a diabetic, adding that employees sometimes have to provide their own gloves when the supply runs out.

She was joined by half a dozen colleagues — all wearing protective masks — who were holding handmade signs while others drove in a small honking caravan around the massive parking lot, steering clear of the drive-thru lane, which remained open for business.

“Nuestra Salud, Essential Tambien” — Our Health is Essential Too — read one sign. Others said, “PPE Now, PPE Ahora,” and “Hold Your Burgers, Hold Your Fries, Workers Here Are Risking Their Lives.”

The Bay Area labor action came a day after a similar protest outside a Los Angeles McDonald’s, where a worker had tested positive for COVID-19. The San Jose employees said there has been no case here.

Still, they’re worried. “If workers get sick, the customers can get sick too,” Ruiz said.

Rainey responded that the company is addressing the issue of sick leave too. “McDonald’s U.S. corporate-owned restaurants and many of our franchisees have expanded upon existing paid leave policies in response to COVID-19 so that those impacted by the virus can tend to their critical health care needs,” she said.

“McDonald’s is staying open to serve the people who are working hard to help our country get through this, and our responsibility to ensure the safety of our employees and customers is our top priority.”

The labor action, organized by the Fight for $15 group, was scheduled to continue every morning this week at this North San Jose McDonald’s, a representative said. As of presstime, the group had not assessed the McDonald’s response and made public whether the protests will continue.

With most Silicon Valley customers sheltering in place, business was light early Monday at this McDonald’s and other fast-food restaurants. At another McDonald’s in San Jose, the normal two-window drive-thru operation had been reduced to one window; the employee was wearing gloves but no mask. At a nearby Wendy’s, where a breakfast menu was recently introduced, two employees staffed the window. Both were wearing gloves but neither was wearing a mask.