RYAN DEFFENBAUGH reports for Crain’s NY Business

New York City movie theaters, bars, concert venues must close and restaurants can only offer delivery and takeout — by order of the mayor — in effort to curb the spread of coronavirus. 

“Now it is time to take yet another drastic step,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “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.”

The mayor said he will sign an order Monday morning and the new rules will go into effect at 9 a.m. the next day, March 17.

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“This is not a decision I make lightly,” the mayor said. “But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality.”
 
New York City has more than 300 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and the state has recorded five deaths. The mayor and Gov. Andrew Cuomo warn the number just within the city will climb to above 1,000 before the end of the week. 

 “We will come through this,” de Blasio added, “but until we do, we must make whatever sacrifices necessary to help our fellow New Yorkers.”

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