New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are implementing new measures to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
Governors from the tri-state area agreed to limit crowds to 50 people or less, restrict restaurants and bars to takeout and delivery only, and close all movie theaters, gyms, and casinos. Grocery stores will remain open. The changes will become effective at 8 p.m. on Monday.
“We have agreed to a common set of rules that will pertain in all of our states, so don’t even think about going to a neighboring state because there’s going to be a different set of conditions,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Monday.
The #Coronavirus doesn’t care about state borders, so this agreement with @GovNedLamont & @GovMurphy will help protect the entire Tri-State Area.
These temporary closures will last as long as is necessary to protect the public health.
Grocery stores will remain OPEN.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 16, 2020
Maryland quickly followed suit. Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday morning that all bars and restaurants would be restricted to only takeout, delivery, and drive-thru options. In addition to limiting gatherings to 50 people, he also said movie theaters and gyms would be closed beginning at 5 p.m.
Other states such as Ohio, Illinois, California, and localities that have begun announcing closures or restrictions of bars and restaurants as well as instituting bans on large gatherings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance on Sunday that recommended organizers “cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people” for the next eight weeks.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday that the public school system in the city, the nation’s largest, would be shuttered until at least April 20, although he conceded that schools could remain closed until the end of the school year.
The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic last week. President Trump declared a national emergency on Friday. There have been at least 3,774 cases and 69 deaths in the United States as of Monday morning.
