Tim Hortons is taking extra health and safety precautions for in-store employees to protect them and others during the pandemic.

The company announced that beginning today, employees will be required to wear masks and have their temperature taken before each shift.

As of today, all Tim Hortons coffee shop workers will have to wear masks at work. Thermometers are also being shipped out and workers must have their temperature taken before starting a shift. Statement from the company sent to CBC's Linda Ward in Toronto: pic.twitter.com/5tS1LyqCgI

— CBC News Alerts (@CBCAlerts) April 22, 2020

"Starting Wednesday, all Tim Hortons will be wearing masks, to protect the health and safety of guests and team members," a statement from the company reads.

"A temperature check will be required for all team members before they start a shift - and anyone else who needs to go behind a counter," it continues.

"They'll be asked if they've had a fever, cough, or shortness of breath since their last shift, and if they've come in contact with anyone who has tested positive or is being tested for COVID-19 since their last shift."

 The coffee chain said that it was able to acquire a "grade of mask that's similar to the surgical masks used in hospitals but manufactured with a different standard, so we're not impacting the supply of masks in hospitals or other health-care facilities."

Tim Hortons double-doubles down on stopping spread of Covid-19. All employees now supposed to wear masks & have temperature checked before starting shift. Delivery drivers dropping off supplies/picking up orders also to have temperature checked. pic.twitter.com/2HGJpwTqaF

— carl hanstke (@carl680) April 22, 2020

It also said it's recently mandated that acrylic protective shields be installed at front counters and drive-thrus. 

Tim Hortons has already removed seating from the dine-in areas of its 4,000 outlets across Canada and moved its annual Roll Up the Rim contest online.