As states and companies begin to reopen and employees head back to work, brands are coming up with creative solutions to safety issues. Dave’s Hot Chicken has implemented a new technology called PathSpot that scans hands to make sure they’ve been washed properly. New York-based consulting firm From, The Digital Transformation Agency, has developed a social distancing app that alerts employees if they’re within six feet of each other.

Personal protective equipment shortages during COVID-19 pose a huge challenge to healthcare systems and facilities nationwide. In an effort to protect their employees and clients, home care and medical staffing franchise BrightStar Care partnered with consulting and brand acceleration firm FranWorth to create a centralized fulfillment center where franchisees can access PPE.

While feelings of helplessness seem to echo across the board, several food franchises are channeling those feelings into doing what they can do to help: feeding front-line workers. Teriyaki Madness, Saladworks and Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders are among many that launched initiatives recently.

House of Athlete—founded by NFL veteran Brandon Marshall—recently teamed up with Raw Juce, a South Florida-based concept that offers organic cold-pressed juices smoothies, acai bowls and other organic foods. Their goal is to raise enough money to purchase and donate at least 30,000 Raw Juce meals to South Florida’s healthcare workers.

As millions of people across the U.S. hunker down at home to slow the spread of COVID-19, domestic violence rates have skyrocketed as abuse victims are trapped at home with their abusers. College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving is offering free moving services to anyone experiencing domestic violence.

Despite devastating economic impacts, the lockdowns from COVID-19 have resulted in decreased air pollution all around the world, giving residents of even highly polluted cities cleaner air. Conserva Irrigation and Oxxo Care Cleaners highlight best eco-friendly practices on Earth Day 2020.

As third-party online travel agencies are scrambling to handle an unprecedented amount of calls and requests to cancel due to COVID-19, many customers are experiencing problems with hours of wait time and delayed or no refunds. For independent travel agents and franchises such as Dream Vacations and Cruise Planners, now is their time to shine as they’re showing personalized customer service and offering creative solutions for travelers.

With more than 450 units, nearly all Hand & Stone massage therapists and estheticians have been furloughed or laid off to allow them to collect unemployment benefits—yet the brand retained about 90 percent of members.

A Chicken Salad Chick franchisee in Ohio and an Apple Spice Box Lunch & Catering franchisee in South Carolina developed creative programs to donate food to first responders, medical workers and other frontline workers during COVID-19.

For My Salon Suite, a salon franchise offering fully-furnished suites where beauty professionals can own and operate their own businesses, COVID-19 closures require that all parties involved get creative to stay afloat.

A Taco John’s franchisee is offering free meals to elderly citizens, a Junk King franchisee has partnered with a local food bank to deliver meals to seniors stuck at home, and Assisted Living Locators has partnered with Love For The Elderly, a nonprofit organization that mails handwritten letters to seniors.

If your local gym isn’t closed due to COVID-19 already, it likely will be soon. TruFusion, an everything-in-one studio backed by athletes such as Russell Wilson and Alex Rodriguez, decided to offer online classes for members ranging from bootcamp to yoga to Pilates.

While scientists scramble to find a treatment for COVID-19, unprecedented quarantines and social distancing measures urged by the CDC have prompted closures of restaurants, bars, fitness clubs and other franchising sectors. This means a lot of business activity is grinding to a halt—except for drive-thru and delivery services.