The coronavirus expansion by the United States is causing a cascade of containment measures in the most populous states of the country to try to slow down a massive infection as much as possible which is already considered inevitable. The city of New York, the largest school district in the United States, on Sunday decreed the closure of all schools. It thus joins Los Angeles, the second largest school system, which will also remain closed as of this Monday. In addition, they will close all bars in the two largest cities in the US, setting a key precedent for the rest of the country. There are already almost 3,800 positive cases and 69 deaths, of them seven in New York state and six in California. The most affected state is Washington with 42 dead.
The Center for Disease Control recommended that gatherings of more than 50 people be banned nationwide, in a significant escalation of the crisis prevention measures. On Monday morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the three contiguous states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are taking this action immediately.
Since the first case of coronavirus was announced in New York City on March 1, many voices are warning of the insufficient reaction to a well-confirmed epidemic. The mayor, Bill de Blasio, finally announced this Sunday the closure of public schools, after a week postponing a measure that had only been taken in certain most affected areas. It is a system of 1.1 million students who will stay at home in a city of 8.4 million inhabitants. Until three in the afternoon of this March 15, there are 329 cases in the city and 729 in the state of New York, which has surpassed the State of Washington (625) as the most affected in the United States.
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State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that Long Island and Westchester County colleges will also be closed. Without sparing drama, de Blasio said he leaves open the possibility of missing the entire school year. Both the mayor and the governor were willing to order the closure of businesses, something that has not yet happened.
Similarly, in the afternoon the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, also announced the closure of all bars in New York. Only establishments that prepare food can be opened to deliver it at home. The drastic measure kills the area in which it was most difficult to convince people to avoid contact with other people. In both New York and Los Angeles, this weekend has seen the contrast between people who have isolated themselves at home and those who continue to go to bars as if nothing was happening.
The closure of bars and schools is added to that of museums, libraries, sporting events and cultural shows. Theaters activity de Broadway it is paralyzed after meetings and events of more than 500 people were banned last Thursday. Also, great tourist attractions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) are closed, whose doors, closed without any sign, some tourists were trying to open this Sunday morning. There were hardly a few people on the normally crowded steps, and nearby Central Park was also less crowded than usual on a sunny holiday.
A few hours later, the Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, also announced the closure of all bars, clubs and restaurants in the city, except to prepare takeout. The mayor assured that he could not close places of worship for reasons of freedom of expression, but asked that they be closed voluntarily. Entertainment venues and gyms are also closed.
In the morning, California Governor Gavin Newsom had announced the recommendation to close all bars and pubs of the state. It is a measure transcendental in a State of 39 million inhabitants It contains three of the largest urban areas in the United States. Newsom clarified that it is not an order that will be applied by force. Formally, it is a recommendation, and he said he is confident that all California businesses will abide by it. But he clarified that if it is necessary to apply force as in “martial law”, it will. The mayor of Los Angeles executed him to the letter.
The order does not affect restaurants. However, Newsom said restaurants will need to cut their capacity in half so there is space between customers. The governor justified the measure for two reasons. First, that the kitchens remain open to prepare meals at home and to collect. Second, so as not to completely paralyze economic activity at once. The number of infected detected in California is at 335 and 6 people have died.
At the closing of bars was added the order that all those over 65 and all those who have chronic diseases remain in isolation at home, as they are a population at risk. The State is working on setting up a system to guarantee the distribution of food to elderly people who have to be isolated. The governor estimates that the isolation order affects 5.3 million Californians.
As for schools, there is no order to close all schools in the state. Those decisions are being made at the local level. But Newsom clarified that about 80% of California students no longer have class. The reason for not issuing a total closure order is to keep some centers open that serve small, isolated or poor communities.
This Sunday, the governors of Ohio and Illinois announced similar measures to curb the spread of the virus. In the case of Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker did mandate the closure of all bars and restaurants.
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