(CNN) – The end of an isolated weekend at home, away from neighbors, friends, and cult communities, will not bring relief to Americans on Monday as they face a series of new restrictions designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
More than 30 million students are outside the classroom. An increasing number of restaurants are prohibited from having customers in their establishments. Entertainment venues are getting harder to find. And even some public beaches are closing in Florida.
As coronavirus cases in U.S increase, efforts must also be made to prevent further spread.
Social distancing, a preventive measure encouraged by health and government officials, is altering the way people in the United States eat, work, study, and socialize.
Students in at least 31 states, as well as Los Angeles and New York, will not attend classes. School districts and universities have begun to transition to online teaching methods until work can be resumed in classrooms.
States like Illinois, Ohio, and Massachusetts have imposed restrictions on restaurant and bar operations to discourage people from gathering too close to each other.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is ordering that all bars and restaurants be closed to the public from Monday night until March 30, he said at a press conference on Sunday. Illinois officials are working with restaurant owners and food delivery services to coordinate so that restaurants can keep kitchens open for food delivery, Pritzker said.
Similarly, Washington state will close bars, restaurants and recreational facilities in an effort to mitigate the virus, Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement. He also said he will sign the closing order on Monday and issue a ban on meetings of more than 50 people.
Massachusetts, which had previously banned gatherings of 250 or more people, reduced that number to no more than 25 on Sunday.
A theater in New York closes its doors because of the measures announced by Governor Cuomo to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
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From the NBA to Disney stores close their doors
In a guide released Sunday night, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised the public to cancel or postpone meetings of 50 or more people across the country for the next eight weeks.
The advice follows growing cancellations of entertainment, sports and social events.
The National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Hockey Association (NHA) and the Football League (MLS) have had cancellations in their season and Broadway theaters have suspended performances in New York City.
In addition to the parks, all Disney stores and properties at Downtown Disney in California and Disney Springs in Florida will be closed beginning March 17, Disney parks, experiences and products announced Monday in a statement posted on Twitter.
What does it mean for the economy?
As measures to keep people in their homes increase, the Federal Reserve announced Sunday that interest rates they would be reduced to almost zero to “support the flow of credit.”
“However, these measures, which are essential to contain the outbreak … will affect the economy in the short term,” said Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.
The virus has had an impact on the economy despite good workforce participation and rising wages for lower-paying jobs, Powell said.
Despite the significant rate cut, an investor helping to manage some $ 150 billion in assets at a high-profile company said the Federal Reserve cannot fix the stress that comes from people who don’t leave their homes.
While urging the public not to frequent other businesses, officials assured Americans that there is no need to stockpile supplies from supermarket chains.
“Supply chains in the United States are strong and there is no need for the American public to hoard essential items,” according to a reading from a conference call that President Donald Trump conducted with supply chain and grocery store executives across the country. country, provided by the White House’s deputy press secretary, Judd Deere.
“All executives are working closely with the Federal Government, as well as state and local leaders, to ensure that essential foods and products are constantly available,” said Deere.
Overwhelming evaluations as travel restrictions take effect
This weekend, travelers waited for hours at New York, Texas and Chicago international airports to undergo health screenings upon arrival in the United States.
Previously, the administration of President Donald Trump had restricted travel from 26 European countries in the Schengen Area free movement zone. Then on Saturday, Vice President Mike Pence added the UK and Ireland to the list starting Monday night.
The United States Department of Homeland Security clarified that the ban does not apply to American citizens, so American travelers will be allowed to return, provided they “have undergone appropriate screening tests” beforehand.
Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said Sunday that the 13 airports that receive passengers from the Schengen area of Europe They now have a 30-minute wait time, but acknowledged that the lines over the weekend were “unacceptable” and that, particularly Chicago’s O’Hare airport, did not make the necessary adjustments for the influx.
Acting Border and Customs Patrol Commissioner Mark Morgan announced Sunday that all airports would have an increase in staff to help process travelers.
Airlines have responded to the virus with measures including suspending service to some destinations and reducing flight capacity.
Delta Air Lines announced in a memo to its employees, obtained by CNN, that due to the coronavirus, it faces worse conditions and is making deeper cuts than after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
“The speed of the drop in demand is unlike anything we’ve seen, and we’ve seen a lot in our business,” said Delta CEO Ed Bastian in the memo.
CNN’s Dakin Andone, Christina Maxouris, Melissa Alonso, Gregory Clary, Richard Davis, Nicole Chavez, Hollie Silverman and Holly Yan contributed to this report.
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