Connecticut, NY + NJ Restaurants and Bars to Close, Take-Out Allowed

All restaurants, bars, gyms and movie theaters in New York State, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut, must close by tonight.

On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a joint press conference with Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to make a joint announcement regarding coronavirus in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Cuomo announced the governors agreed to take joint regional action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and announced a number of common rules that will apply to all of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

The rules include:

• No crowds of gatherings of 50 people
• All Casinos will close by 8 p.m. on Monday
• Gyms will close by 8 p.m. on Monday
• Movies wills close by 8 p.m. on Monday
• Bars will close
• Restaurants will close by 8 p.m. on Monday. Restaurants will still be allowed to make food, but only for delivery or take-out.

"The businesses will remain closed until further notice," Cuomo said during the conference call.

Supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations will stay open, officials said. Other businesses may remain open if there are fewer than 50 people working inside the business at a given time.

"Our primary goal is to slow the spread of #Coronavirus so that the wave doesn’t crash our healthcare system. Social distancing is the best way to do that," Cuomo tweeted. "I have called on the federal gov't to implement nationwide protocols, but in their absence we are taking this on ourselves. The #Coronavirus doesn't care about state borders, so this agreement with @GovNedLamont & @GovMurphy will help protect the entire Tri-State Area. These temporary closures will last as long as is necessary to protect the public health."

Cuomo also recommends all New Yorkers should practice social distancing and stay home.

On Sunday, the CDC recommended all large events or mass gatherings be canceled or postponed for the next two months.  The World Health Organization wants everyone to follow these five simple steps to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

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