McDonald’s stores closed in Indonesia because of BTS Meal orders over Covid-19 fears

More than a dozen McDonald’s outlets in Indonesia have been temporarily shuttered over virus fears after the chain’s new BTS meal started frenzied purchasing from fans. A few McDonald’s stores were closed on Wednesday in Indonesia after K-Pop fans went into a frenzy over the fast-food giant’s latest promotion.

Bangtan Sonyeondan, the global musical phenomenon, is ruling the charts with its most recent single ‘Butter’, as well as has left fans in a frenzy as they attempt to get their hands on a BTS Meal, the band’s cooperation with McDonald’s. Notwithstanding, their craze in Indonesia went to such statures that specialists needed to temporarily close various outlets on Wednesday (June 9) over Covid-19 fears.

The international fast-food chain joined hands with the K-Pop band recently to come up with a special meal, comprising of 10 chicken nuggets, chips, a coke, and two sauces (sweet chilli and Cajun), reported in 50 nations throughout the world. In each country, BTS fans, known as ARMY, made an honest effort to get the snack as well as the purple wrappings, which were specially customized to the being a fan’s color.

In Indonesia, while in-store eating was not permitted because of the pandemic, the meals prompted tremendous lines outside outlets.

Jakarta in Indonesia shut the doors of more than 30 McDonald’s outlets, which were immersed with online food orders for a BTS McDonald’s meal, named after the South Korean boy band.

Photographs show a few delivery drivers packed into McDonald’s stores and spilling out into the road, attempting to get the orders. Videos and photographs overwhelmed social media, showing long traffic growls and scores of delivery drivers waiting outside stores to get the orders.

Closure stickers were slapped on at least 13 outlets across Jakarta and different cities after they were immersed with online food-delivery drivers, who were getting orders of the meal – which comprises of 10 Chicken McNuggets, large fries, large soda drink, and sweet chilli and cajun dipping sauces – inspired by the gigantically popular Korean boy band.

“We temporarily closed four of six McDonald’s stores here in Semarang for a couple of days,” the city’s public order agency head, Fajar Purwoto, said.

“I don’t want Semarang to be in the Covid-19 red zone again.”

Indonesia has been one of the hardest-hit nations in Asia all through the pandemic.

Local media said five stores in Jakarta were closed over BTS-meal orders, AFP announced, which were first made accessible in Indonesia on Wednesday, and has been on offer in many countries since May.

Authorities in Jakarta said that an aggregate of 32 branches was temporarily shut across the city. There were further closures in different parts of the country. “In the Central Jakarta area, there were 6 outlets, 6 outlets in West Jakarta, 5 outlets in North Jakarta, 9 outlets in South Jakarta, and 6 outlets in East Jakarta,” the law enforcement organization said on its website, stating specialists discovered stores violating health protocols.

It showed up on Australian shores on May 27, denoting the first time Macca’s – which has worked together with rapper Travis Scott previously, causing a Quarter Pounder shortage in the US – has sold a big name’s favorite order in more than one market.

“The band has great memories with McDonald’s. We’re excited about the collaboration and can’t wait to share the BTS Meal with the world,” said Bighit Music, BTS’ label.

In a proclamation, Satpol PP said 32 McDonald’s outlets were temporarily shut, because of violations of health protocols.

“There are six outlets in Central Jakarta, six in West Jakarta, five in North Jakarta, nine outlets in South Jakarta, and six in East Jakarta which were subject to sanctions by joint officers,” the statement said.

“Business place managers are requested to jointly comply with health protocols to reduce the spread of Covid 19 in the capital.”

Because of Covid-19 protocols, businesses are restricted to 50 percent capacity to stay away from huge crowds and arrangements should be set up to guarantee distances between clients and customers.

Jakarta Metro Police representative said specialists have asked the BTS meal be discontinued “for now”, Coconuts Jakarta reported.

Indonesia is one of the hardest-hit countries in Asia.

Jakarta specialists didn’t react to requests for comment. Be that as it may, local media said five stores in the capital were closed over BTS-meal orders.

The meal set of chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink, first made accessible in Indonesia Wednesday, has been on offer in many nations since May.

BTS is a boy band from South Korea, who has acquired fans and popularity throughout the world. The band’s most recent single Butter is sitting on top of Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart.

BTS have become global superstars with a large number of fans throughout the world since their debut in 2013.

The BTS Meal, as it’s called, incorporates a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meal, with medium World Famous Fries, medium Coke, and sweet chilli and Cajun dipping sauces, inspired by popular recipes from McDonald’s in South Korea.

UAE clients will actually want to order the BTS Meal through the McDonald’s app, Drive-Thru, and at all McDonald’s restaurants until Monday, June 28.

To mark the launch of the BTS Meal, McDonald’s and the seven-piece band released a line of branded clothing and accessories on the Weverse Shop app.