New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is signing an executive order limiting bars and restaurants to delivery and take-out only and shutting down entertainment venues like movie theaters to combat the spread of coronavirus.
New York City is home to nearly nine million people.
“The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that cycle. Tomorrow, I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery,” de Blasio said in a statement posted to Twitter.
“Nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses, and concert venues must all close,” he added.
Right now, we have 329 cases of COVID-19 in New York City. We have lost 5 New Yorkers. We know both of these numbers are going to grow substantially.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 15, 2020
De Blasio is expected to sign the executive order on Monday, with the measures going into effect on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
The mayor also announced that all NYC public schools will be closing, but grab-and-go breakfast and lunch will available for people to pick up. They will also begin “remote digital learning” on March 23.
“Today, we made the painful decision to suspend classes in all NYC public schools, beginning tomorrow March 16. We’re going to begin remote digital learning on Monday March 23, and we’ll do everything in our power to help our kids through this,” de Blasio tweeted. “We know hundreds of thousands of kids depend on our schools for their meals. We’ll have grab and go breakfast and lunch available at all school buildings starting tomorrow.”
We know hundreds of thousands of kids depend on our schools for their meals. We’ll have grab and go breakfast and lunch available at all school buildings starting tomorrow.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) March 15, 2020
“This is not a decision I make lightly,” de Blasio said. “These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended canceling any events of 50 or more people for the next eight weeks.
