Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has called for all restaurants and bars in seven counties to be limited to takeout and delivery amid the coronavirus pandemic, starting Tuesday.
The Republican, who has consistently been one of the most popular governors in the U.S., also lower the threshold for mass gatherings from 250 to just 25 people, The Boston Globe reported.
"I realize these measures are unprecedented," Baker at a news conference Sunday. "If we take decisive steps now and everyone plays their part by following the best medical guidance, we can slow down the spread."
Grocery stores and pharmacies will remain open. And schools will be closed at least until April 6.
A total of 164 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Massachusetts, which is under a state of emergency, and 969 residents have been tested for the coronavirus.
Seven counties – Berkshire, Essex, Hampden, Norfolk, Middlesex, Suffolk, and Worcester – have confirmed cases, per the report.
"The facts on the ground have changed," Baker said. "Now that we have evidence based on the testing results that we have community transmission in seven counties in Massachusetts, I think at this point in time it's particularly appropriate we not only move on the school closures, but also that we get a lot more aggressive around other places and spaces that people gather."
Global health experts have advise closures and social distancing is the best way to curb and manage the spread of the global pandemic.
"This is a time of shared sacrifice," Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said Sunday, per the Globe. "It will save lives."
The massive shutdowns are expected to roil the already fear-stricken stock markets. Futures are already suggesting a troublesome Monday return to the market.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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