The city of Los Angeles got an extra dose of coronavirus reality on Sunday when Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered that all bars, gyms, movie theaters, and in-person dining restaurants be closed to further halt the spread of the virus.
According to ABC News, restaurants can remain open so long as business is restricted to delivery, takeout, or drive-thru. Bars and nightclubs will be most severely hit by the closure due to St. Patrick’s day, arguably the biggest drinking holiday of the year. Though Garcetti is legally barred from ordering churches to close, he encouraged them to stop services for the benefit of public health.
“This is an absolutely critical moment in our city’s history,” Garcetti said. “We are all first responders. This isn’t just someone else’s responsibility, but it is the responsibility of each one of us. Your actions matter and they can and will save lives.”
Public libraries, zoos, and recreation centers have already been closed.
Garcetti also chastised people for engaging in “panic buy” by hoarding food, assuring people that stores will be regularly stocked. ”
“You hoarding or buying too much is putting (others) at danger as well. So shop. Food is coming. We’re working with groceries to ensure it continues coming,” he said.
President Trump over the weekend similarly advised against hoarding during the coronavirus pandemic. “You don’t have to buy so much,” he said. “There’s no need for anybody in the country to hoard essential food supplies.”
These are the emergency steps we are taking to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 & protect people across LA, effective at midnight tonight. This isn’t easy & I don't make this decision lightly. We will do everything we can to help businesses & workers impacted during this time. pic.twitter.com/FAAOcRBDn7
— MayorOfLA (@MayorOfLA) March 16, 2020
Mayor Garcetti’s orders came hours after California Gov. Gavin Newsom called for seniors to self-isolate and for bars to close, though they were intended as a guidance rather than an order. Newsom also asked that restaurants reduce capacity by 50%.
Politico outlined some of the steps the Trump administration is taking in concert with grocery stores to ensure that people will not be without supplies (formatting adjusted):
Leslie Sarasin, president of FMI, the food industry association formerly known as the Food Marketing Institute, said the administration and industry are on the same page about making sure that “stores can stay open and stocked.”
Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket chain, said it is working with suppliers to more quickly replenish scarce items. Texas-based chain H-E-B is limiting purchases of food items from canned soup and beans to milk, eggs and chicken. Whole Foods is suspending its food sampling. Giant is urging customers to bring their own shopping bags because of the strain on its own supplies.
Sarasin added that retailers are also “seeking to be sensitive to the needs of all our customers and partners, including our WIC and SNAP shoppers and the food banks our stores support,” referring to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps.
Garcetti’s order follows Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s (R) similarly ordering the closure of all bars and restaurants in the entire state. DeWine announced the following in a series of tweets Sunday.
“We will be issuing an order closing all bars and restaurants in [Ohio] beginning at 9:00 tonight,” DeWine announced. “Establishments can stay open for carry-out and delivery. What we can’t have is people congregating and seated. I’m aware that this will impact many, many good workers. I can’t tell you how sorry I am, but we will work to mitigate the suffering. It is our goal for everyone to get through this. Every day we delay, more people will die. If we do not act and get some distance between people, our healthcare system in [Ohio] will not hold up. The loss won’t only be those impacted by [COVID-19], but the danger is also to everyone else who needs hospital care for other issues.”
Related: Here’s How To Get Food Safely Delivered During Coronavirus