You can't go out to eat in New York City anymore
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) announced Sunday that he is signing an executive order banning eating out in response to the novel coronavirus outbreak. All restaurants, bars, and cafes in the city will be restricted to take-out and delivery only, effective Tuesday. The mayor also ordered all nightclubs, movie theaters, small theaters, and concert venues in America's most populous city to close.
The decision is one of the most extensive measures yet undertaken by any city in the United States in response to the outbreak. Earlier Sunday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) ordered all restaurants and bars in the state to close until the end of March, with an exception for takeout and deliveries, with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D), Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R), and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) following suit.
There are more than 26,000 restaurants in New York City. Los Angeles, which has the most restaurants of any U.S. city with over 29,000, will also see its establishments directed to close, its mayor, Eric Garcetti, confirmed following a local shutdown of bars on Sunday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Continuing the weekend tradition of packing the bars is selfish and reckless during this pandemic," wrote Charlie Warzel for The New York Times on Saturday. "It will speed up the spread of the virus, increasing the suffering for older and more vulnerable people and for the medical workers who will be caring for them." Experts have urged Americans to follow social distancing guidelines in order to flatten the curve of the disease.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Swiss bliss: Chenot Palace Weggis takes wellness to the next level
The Blend Heath retreat on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers a mid-winter reset
By Felix Bischof Published
-
Earth's mini-moon was the moon all along
Under the radar More lunar rocks are likely floating in space
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published