Covid-19: Schools, eateries, cinemas forced to close in US

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New York - 'I have no words for how horrible it is, but it has become necessary'

By AP/Reuters

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Published: Mon 16 Mar 2020, 6:50 AM

Last updated: Mon 16 Mar 2020, 3:01 PM

Bars, restaurants, theatres and movie houses in New York and Los Angeles were ordered to shut down to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as central banks around the world took aggressive steps to cushion the economic impact of the disease.

The US Federal Reserve slashed interest rates, for the second time in less than two weeks, to near zero and other central banks followed suit but stock markets and the dollar continued to tumble.

Europe’s main stocks markets plunged more than 6 per cent in brutal opening trading while Wall Street futures for the S&P 500 index had hit their downlimit in the first quarter-hour of Asian trade as investors rushed for safety.

At an emergency meeting, the Bank of Japan further eased monetary policy by ramping up purchases of exchange-traded funds and other risky assets.

Leaders of the G7 countries will hold a video conference at 1400 GMT on Monday to discuss a joint response to the coronavirus outbreak, officials have said.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Sunday he was ordering restaurants, bars and cafes to only sell food on a take-out or delivery basis. He also said he would order nightclubs, movie theatres, small theatre houses and concert venues to close.
Schools in NYC also suspended classes as the city gears up for digital learning from March 23.



“These places are part of the heart and soul of our city,” he said. “But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality.”
The school closure will send over 1.1 million children home in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus, the city's mayor announced Sunday.

A somber Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the decision to close schools through at least April 20 - and possibly for the school year - as similar closures occurred in communities and entire states nationwide and pressure mounted from New York residents, City Council members and others.

"I have no words for how horrible it is, but it has become necessary," de Blasio said. "As of now, school is cancelled for Monday."
"They have been working on a wartime footing to prepare it," de Blasio said of administrators. He also announced that the city will open centers for the children of health care and emergency workers.

The shutdown affects the city's nearly 1,900 public schools. Many private schools already have closed. Multiple states had already announced they were closing schools. So have cities like Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC

The school closure is part of a strategy of trying to slow the spread of the virus through social distancing - having people stay away from each other, and especially avoid large groups.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti issued similar orders. Any restaurant, bar or cafe selling food will only be able to do so via delivery or take-out, officials said.

“The worst is yet ahead for us,” said Dr Anthony Fauci, the top infectious diseases expert in the United States. “It is how we respond to that challenge that is going to determine what the ultimate end point is going to be.”

The worldwide coordinated policy actions were reminiscent of the sweeping steps taken just over a decade ago to fight a meltdown of the global financial system, but this time the target is a fast-spreading health crisis with no certain end in sight that is forcing entire societies to effectively shut down.

“The issue for investors that still remains is that the virus’s economic impact is still not known, if this is a one-month event or if this is a one-year event, and how deep the cutback in consumer spending is going to be,” said Rick Meckler, partner at Cherry Lane Investments in New Vernon, New Jersey.
More cases outside China

Airlines around the world said they would make more drastic cuts to their flying schedules, shed jobs and seek government aid because of sweeping global travel restrictions.

Several countries imposed bans on mass gatherings such as sports, cultural and religious events to combat the disease that has infected over 169,000 people globally and killed more than 6,500.

The virus was first identified in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in December but there have now been more cases and more deaths outside China than inside.

France and Spain joined Italy in imposing lockdowns on tens of millions of people while Australia ordered self-isolation of arriving foreigners.






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