New York City may be shutting down completely within the next 48hrs. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Tuesday that he was debating whether to force a shelter-in-place order, which would require residents to stay in their homes to help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
“New Yorkers should be prepared right now for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order,” de Blasio said. “The decision will be made in the next 48 hours.”
De Blasio realizes the “tremendously substantial challenges” New Yorkers would face with the order being put in place.
“I don’t take this lightly at all,” he said. “Folks have to understand that right now, with so many New Yorkers losing employment, losing paychecks, dealing with all sorts of stresses and strains, I’m hearing constantly from people who are tremendously worried about how they’re going to make ends meet.
“In that scenario, a shelter-in-place begs a lot of questions,” the mayor said. “What is going to happen with folks who have no money?”
In recent days, De Blasio has ordered the close of schools through April 20 and has limited restaurants and bars to takeout and delivery only. To promote the importance of social distancing, nightclubs, movie theaters and Broadway shows Are closed down to the public.