NEW YORK (AP) — Bars and restaurants will become takeout-only and businesses from movie theaters and casinos to gyms and beyond will be shuttered Monday night throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut because of the coronavirus, the states’ governors said.
The governors said essential businesses such as supermarkets and gas stations will be able to stay open after 8 p.m. Monday, though all non-essential businesses must close in New Jersey and Connecticut. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he is “strongly encouraging” non-essential businesses to close in New York after 8 p.m.
Restaurants will be able to offer take-out and delivery.
The steps mark the latest escalation of efforts to keep people apart in the New York metropolitan area in hopes of curbing the spread of the virus, and an attempt to coordinate a regional response in the face of what the states’ Democratic governors called lagging federal action.
“It’s chaos. I think it actually feeds the feeling that the country’s out of control. There is no clear direction, there is no clear path,” Cuomo said during a joint conference call with the other governors.
New York City bars and restaurants were already set to shut their dining rooms and take up their barstools Tuesday morning, under a plan that Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Sunday.
Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts and Washington state also are among places that have ordered bars to close and restaurants to stop dine-in service.
For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
In addition to the closures, the governors said that crowds will be limited to 50 people effective at 8 p.m.
It’s unclear when business will return to normal.
The governors said essential businesses including supermarkets, gas stations and pharmacies will remain open.
How New York’s and Connecticut’s tribal casinos will be affected is not clear. Connecticut is “strongly urging their tribal partners to close tribal casinos,” according to Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont.
Sherry Giordano, an Atlantic City casino regular from Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, had a trip booked for this weekend that will be canceled. But she would have been hesitant to go even if the casinos had been open, due to her husband’s medical history.
“I’m less concerned with my own safety and I think a lot of people have a tendency to think that way, which is both kind of stupid and selfish because we can endanger others,” she said. “I not only love gambling, I love meeting people and escaping reality. Atlantic City is very important to me and my husband. But I think it’s the right thing to do. I would rather err (on the side of) caution rather than jeopardize a life.”
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Associated Press writers Susan Haigh, Wayne Parry, Michael Hill, Marina Villeneuve and Mike Catalini contributed to this article.
