Cuomo Closes Westchester Restaurants and Businesses Amid Coronavirus Concerns

Photo courtesy of Chef David DiBari

Restaurants, theaters, gyms, and more are forced to close in an attempt to stymie the disease’s spread.

In a press conference this morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced sweeping measurers to help combat and slow the spread of Wuhan coronavirus in Westchester and the greater NYC metro area.

Effective 8 p.m. March 16, gatherings of more than 50 persons are now prohibited, all gyms, movie theaters, and casinos are to close, and restaurants and bars will be limited to takeout and delivery options only throughout the entirety of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

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This move comes as local and federal governments encourage residents to engage in social distancing. Grocery stores are still open, although some are reducing their hours. Call ahead to confirm openings and delivery options and platforms for each restaurant. Anyone who feels unwell should stay home, and everyone should remain at least three feet apart, wash hands often, cough into elbows, and avoid touching their face.

Over the weekend, more than a dozen Westchester restaurants decided to voluntarily close or suspend dine-in service. “Our restaurant group … has made the decision to voluntarily close our dining rooms until further notice,” Chef David DiBari wrote on Instagram of his decision to close The CookeryThe Parlor, and Eugene’s Diner & Bar until further notice. “In the wake of what’s going on, we feel that it is our duty to do our part to minimize the spread and give our nurses, doctors, and healthcare system the best possible chance to overcome this as quickly as possible.”

Empire City Casino in Yonkers announced it would close for two weeks as of 6 a.m. last Friday, March 14. This came after a closure of Yonkers Raceway and the death from COVID-19 of a New Jersey man who worked at the racetrack.

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While MGM Resorts and the casino said the decision was difficult, “The health and safety of our customers and employees come first,” they said in a statement.


Read More: Coronavirus in Westchester — What You Need to Know

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