New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the closing of schools and nonessential business in nine city area codes by Wednesday will head off a COVID-19 resurgence.
Affected by the new lockdown will be all public and private schools and day care centers, as well as indoor and outdoor dining places. Restaurants will only be allowed to do delivery and to-go service. Churches and houses of worship aren't yet part of de Blasio's closure plan. They will remain open, but with restrictions.
De Blasio said more than half a million residents would be affected by the closings - as well as about 100 public schools and 200 private schools. He said his proposal to New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo identified the nine area codes in Brooklyn and Queens as testing positive above 3% for seven straight days. Cuomo will have to approve de Blasio's proposal for this to take effect.
The new restrictions will be around for either 14 days or 28 days, depending on how long the area codes remain under 3% positivity.
Mayor de Blasio said the city needed to take more extensive action to stem the new coronavirus wave. He admitted the new shutdown will "be very difficult" but said it was necessary to stop the spread of the coronavirus in these communities and beyond.
He said the city was being forced to take this strategic action now. His plan is to rewind to address this new problem by using tools "we know work."
"The goal here is to prevent something bigger from happening right now," de Blasio said.
