New Yorkers will no longer be able to dine in city restaurants beginning Tuesday.
The announcement Sunday was one of several unprecedented measures taken by the city to enact social distancing and slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus.
As of Tuesday, city restaurants would only be permitted to offer pickup or delivery options to customers. Bars that did not serve food would have to close down until further notice.
"We have to break the cycle and protect our must vulnerable New Yorkers," said a statement from the mayor's office.
Restaurants and bars had previously been ordered not to exceed 50 percent capacity. Nightclubs, theaters and concert venues must all close.
COVID-19 had sickened over 700 people in New York State and more than 300 in New York City. The disease was blamed for six deaths by Sunday.
Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Sunday that schools would be closed in Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties.
He ordered New York City to come up with a plan to ensure students who rely on school for meals would be fed for the duration of the outbreak.
Mayor Bill de Blasio later announced that city public schools would be closed until at least April 20. Teachers would take the coming week to train for virtual instruction.
Students would begin remote learning on March 23.
De Blasio said students might not return to school this semester.
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