Special Report

Shutdown: The Coronavirus

U.S. ramps up restrictions to contain the coronavirus outbreak

President Donald Trump updates the nation on his administration’s efforts to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, and support the millions of Americans impacted.

The United States has tightened restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus with the Trump administration partially closing the border with Mexico and New York ordering non-essential workers to stay home. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday announced that the U.S. and Mexico agreed to close the border at midnight tomorrow to restrict non-essential travel. 

The United States and Mexico have agreed to restrict non-essential travels across our shared border,” Pompeo said during a White House briefing. “Both our countries know the importance of working together to limit the spread of the virus.”

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump tweeted that the U.S. will restrict non-essential travel to Canada by temporarily closing the border, and said trade will not be affected. The Canadian-U.S. border closure will also go into effect on Saturday. 

In the U.S., cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel virus, topped 15,000  with 201 deaths as of Friday afternoon, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Globally, more than 250,000 coronavirus cases have been reported with more than 10,000 deaths. 

The U.S. State Department yesterday implemented a Level 4 travel advisory , the highest level of travel advisory, warning citizens against traveling abroad. Pompeo said U.S. citizens should return immediately unless they plan to remain abroad for an indefinite period. 

Secretary of Treasury Steve Mnuchin said via Twitter that the tax filing deadline has been moved from April 15 to July 15. “All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties,” Mnuchin said on Twitter. “I encourage all taxpayers who may have tax refunds to file now to get your money.”

During the White House briefing, Trump announced the suspension of federally held student loan payments for 60 days without penalty, and said interests will be temporarily waived. 

Trump applauded measures taken by Governors Andrew Cuomo in New York and Gavin Newsom in California to contain the spread of the coronavirus. 

“They’re taking very strong, bold steps and I applaud them,” Trump said. 

Gov. Cuomo on Friday ordered all non-essential businesses to keep all their workers at home and told New Yorkers to stay home as much as possible by executive order, which takes effect on Sunday. The governor said the state does not plan to fine violators, and will not shut down public transportation or close roads.

Cuomo also mandated the closure of personal care businesses such as barber shops, hair and nail salons, and tattoo parlors starting on Saturday at 8 p.m. All nonprofit organizations and businesses must reduce their in-person workforce by 75 percent by the same time.

Cuomo said the number of reported coronavirus cases in New York reached 7,102 on Friday, 4,408 of them in New York City. 

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio pleaded on Thursday for military aid in the face of the spike of cases as the city becomes the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S. De Blasio said medical supplies in the city are running low and hospitals could run out of supplies in two to three weeks.

Meanwhile, Gov. Newsom on Thursday ordered California’s 40 million residents to stay home except for trips for essential services like grocery stores, pharmacies and gas stations. Nonessential businesses such as movie theaters, gyms and bars had been ordered to close. 

California has confirmed  more than 1,000 cases of the virus with 19 deaths.

In Arizona, Navajo Nation officials said on Thursday that 14 people have tested positive for Covid-19 on the reservation, making up more than half the cases in the state, according to NBC. The Navajo Nation issued a public health emergency this week and put the Chilchinbeto community under shelter-in-place. Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez urged the public to stay home and said the entire Navajo Nation may be put under shelter-in-place. 

In Puerto Rico, the number of cases of Covid-19 rose to 14 on Friday after the Veteran Affairs Caribbean Healthcare System confirmed six new cases under its jurisdiction. On Wednesday, Gov. Wanda Vázquez Garced asked the Federal Aviation Administration to cancel all domestic and international flights to the island for 14 days. Vázquez Garced on Sunday imposed an overnight curfew until March 30 and ordered a two-week closure of non-essential businesses to contain the spread of the coronavirus.  

 

 

Author


Tags


Other Stories in Special Report: Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Life returns to the East Village

Quincy Walter May 5, 2021

Reopening for Ramadan

Hassan Abbas May 4, 2021

And the band played on

Xavier Bartaburu May 2, 2021

Queens residents mourn at Covid vigil

Annie Burky May 2, 2021

Floating for Free: COVID and the Staten Island Ferry

Trish Rooney May 2, 2021

COVID-19 has left many Black and Hispanic landlords in serious debt

Norah Hogan April 24, 2021

Village East movie theater reopens to the public

Inga Parkel April 13, 2021

Chinese adoptions halted by COVID

Inga Parkel March 24, 2021

Remote is the new workplace normal

Courtney Guarino March 24, 2021

One year of COVID-19 in New York City

Michelle Diaz March 16, 2021

COVID long haulers deal with lingering symptoms and doubt

Kaity Assaf March 5, 2021

Pandemic Weddings

Chuyan Jiang March 2, 2021

Pandemic fatigue 101

Chuyan Jiang February 28, 2021

Yankee Stadium becomes COVID-19 vaccine site for Bronx residents only

Michelle Diaz February 24, 2021

The queer community rallies behind their sacred spaces closed because of COVID-19

Inga Parkel February 23, 2021

Street vendors struggle as New Yorkers and tourists stay home

Norah Hogan February 13, 2021

Keeping the faith in COVID-19

Courtney Guarino February 3, 2021

Little Italy’s restaurants need indoor dining to survive pandemic

Michelle Diaz February 2, 2021

Stray pets find homes and love during pandemic

Inga Parkel February 1, 2021

No Actors, But the Show Goes On

James Pothen December 5, 2020

New York City, a place of refuge 

Edith Rousselot December 4, 2020

Commuting in a pandemic world

Michelle Diaz December 3, 2020

Battling food insecurities during a pandemic

Courtney Guarino December 3, 2020

Adaptation

Justin McGown December 3, 2020

Honk!: Cars earn a special spot in 2020

Luana Harumi December 3, 2020

Working out looks very different during a pandemic

Chuyan Jiang December 2, 2020

One kitchen’s transformation in the age of isolation

Isabel Beer December 2, 2020

Nursing homes are filled with sadness and loss during pandemic shut down

Inga Parkel December 1, 2020

The show goes on

Norah Hogan December 1, 2020

Loyal members help keep independent cinemas afloat

Courtney Guarino December 1, 2020

Musicians deal with the reality of no live shows as covid takes center stage

Paola Michelle Ortiz December 1, 2020

 Black Friday’s Aftermath

Sughnen Yongo November 30, 2020

The Spirit of Little Haiti

Savannah Daniels October 14, 2020

Small business owners hope for future relief

Courtney Guarino October 2, 2020

Brooklyn Book Festival held virtually

Chuyan Jiang September 28, 2020

NYC Restaurant owners worry about maintaining business during winter 

Isabel Beer September 27, 2020

The pandemic is causing mental health struggles for many Latinos

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 24, 2020

Politically divided family can agree on one thing, rallies are bad during a pandemic

Michelle Diaz September 23, 2020

New Yorkers are vulnerable to mental issues due to pandemic

Sughnen Yongo September 23, 2020

Healthcare professionals struggle with Trump’s decisions during pandemic

Tori Luecking September 23, 2020

Some Americans Say “Not So Fast” on Operation Warp Speed

James Pothen September 23, 2020

Trump voters unfazed by morality of Trump’s Covid response

Norah Hogan September 22, 2020

Trump rallies continue, despite the rising Covid-19 death toll

Isabel Beer September 22, 2020

Latinos weigh in on President Trump’s management of the pandemic

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 21, 2020

Fast track vaccine causes fear

Kaity Assaf September 21, 2020

It’s business as usual at McSorley’s Old Ale House

Tori Luecking September 20, 2020

Trump defiance to hold indoor rallies amidst COVID-19 sparks polarized responses 

Courtney Guarino September 20, 2020

NYC Cafes and restaurants try and survive the pandemic

Isabel Beer September 19, 2020

A typical afternoon at Shade Bar NYC

Kaity Assaf September 19, 2020

West Village staple, Caffe Reggio, remains open for outdoor dining in the wake of coronavirus restrictions 

Norah Hogan September 19, 2020