Starbucks bans use of reusable coffee mugs over fears of novel coronavirus spreading

Starbucks is stopping the use of reusable cups and is halting business travel to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The coffee chain is also ramping up regular cleaning practices across all stores, modifying or postponing large meetings and providing info to employees on how to respond to suspected cases of the virus.

Starbucks has long offered a ten-cent discount to customers who bring their own reusable mugs or ask to use an in-store mug as part of a sustainability initiative.

The company says it will still offer a discount to customers who ask to use their reusable cup or to use an in-store mug.

Starbucks announced the changes in a letter from its executive vice president on Wednesday.

It's the latest corporate impact from the global spread of COVID-19, which caused global stock markets to fall and has created worries in the Canadian tourism industry.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2020.