New York City and Los Angeles movie theaters ordered to close due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered movie theaters to close over the coronavirus outbreak. The closing of movie theaters is a first in history due to a viral outbreak.
New York City closed movie theaters on Sunday to stop the spread of the virus outbreak. NYC also closed restaurants, night clubs, and concert venues starting Tuesday at 9 a.m. Public schools will also close. Restaurants will only be allowed to facilitate take out orders and delivery beginning March 17.
Unless the government extends closings, LA bars, nightclubs, gyms, and entertainment Venus will also close until March 31. Garcetti said grocery stores and pharmacies would remain open. Los Angeles does not include other small municipalities, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Pasadena.
“This is not a decision I make lightly,” de Blasio wrote Sunday night on Twitter. “These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality.”
He added, “We will come through this, but until we do, we must make whatever sacrifices necessary to help our fellow New Yorkers.”
On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended public events of over 50 people should be canceled for the next eight weeks.
On Monday, AMC Theaters, the world’s largest movie chain, announced the theater would only allow a maximum of 50 people in a theater.
“With this action, AMC continues its commitment to adhere to recommendations of the CDC on social distancing, which is an extremely important concept in these unprecedented times,” AMC CEO and president Adam Aron said in a statement.
To lower the rate of infection of the virus in the two largest cities in America, Mayor de Blasio and Garcetti revealed the new plan. Federal officials pushed for social distancing to “flatten the curve” of infection, so hospitals are not overwhelmed by patrons.
The closing of restaurants is a significant blow to thousands of people working in the hospitality industry, especially those who are hourly employees. The closure of movie theaters is additional damage to the American economy impact box office, who are experiencing significant downturns in attendance due to the coronavirus outbreak.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed New York City Mayor de Blasio to close schools. The mayor said it was a difficult decision due to the financial implications for families who are unable to take off work. The city will still provide food to those students who rely on meals, de Blasio explained.
Movie attendance dropped to a 22-year low over the weekend as many chose to stay home than see Pixar’s “Onward,” Universal’s “The Hunt” or Vin Diesel’s “Blood Shot.”
Other movies and TV shows have shut down production. You can read our full list of TV shows and movies no longer filming here.
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