California’s governor has announced the closure of all bars in the state and ordered restaurants to focus on social distancing by cutting their capacities by 50 per cent in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
During a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Gov Gavin Newsom said: ‘We are directing that all bars, night clubs, wineries, brew pubs and the like be closed in the state of California.’
There are currently 335 confirmed cases of coronavirus in California as of Sunday afternoon, which is a 14 per cent increase from the day before. Six deaths have been reported in the state.
‘We believe that this is a non-essential function in our state and we believe that it’s appropriate under the circumstances to move in that direction,’ Newsom said.
California Gov Gavin Newsom (pictured speaking on Sunday) has announced the closure of all bars in the state and ordered restaurants to focus on social distancing by cutting their capacities by 50 per cent in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus
The governor, who declared a state of emergency earlier this month after the first death in California, said as it relates to restaurants, officials have more ‘nuanced concerns and considerations’.
‘Some have suggested shutting down all of our restaurants. We don’t believe ultimately that is necessary at this moment. Consideration nonetheless is to socially distance patrons within these establishments,’ Newsom said.
In doing so, restaurants will be forced to cut their current occupancy by half in order to properly social distance diners.
Following California’s announcement of closures, officials across the country curtailed elements of American life to fight the coronavirus outbreak, with governors closing restaurants, bars and schools.
Parts of America already looks like a ghost town, and others are about to follow as theme parks closed, Florida beaches shooed away spring breakers, Starbucks said it will accept only drive-thru and takeout orders and the governors of Ohio and Illinois ordered bars and restaurants shuttered.
New York City, New Jersey and elsewhere are considering similar measures.
‘The time for persuasion and public appeals is over,’ Illinois Gov J.B. Pritzker said. ‘This is not a joke. No one is immune to this.’
His decision came hours after Dr Anthony Fauci, the federal government’s top infectious disease expert, said he would like to see a 14-day national shutdown imposed to prevent the virus’s spread.
‘I think Americans should be prepared that they are going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing,’ said Fauci, a member of the White House task force on combating the spread of coronavirus.
In the United States, there are more than 3,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 60 deaths
He heads the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health.
However, there is no indication President Donald Trump is considering such a move.
Ohio’s governor Mike DeWine also revealed that the state will be doing the same.
‘We will be issuing an order closing all bars and restaurants in #Ohio beginning at 9:00 tonight,’ DeWine tweeted Sunday afternoon.
‘I’m aware that this will impact many, many good workers. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, but we will work to mitigate the suffering. It is our goal to get everyone through this,’ DeWine added.
DeWine’s order will shut down all in-person dining in Ohio, but restaurants and bars will still offer carryout and delivery.
In another tweet, DeWine wrote: ‘Every day we delay, more people will die. If we do not act and get some distance between people, our healthcare system in Ohio will not hold up.’
In the United States, there are more than 3,400 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 60 deaths.
Globally, there are more than 162,000 confirmed cases and more than 6,000 deaths.