There have been reports of the federal government considering a nationwide curfew to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to CNN, but Vice President Mike Pence’s office has denied the information.
CNN reported that the recommendation would include malls, restaurants, and bars. Grocery stores and pharmacies, which carry essential items, would most likely be exempt.
A Pence spokesperson told journalists “there is no serious discussion about imposing a nationwide curfew.”
The restaurant industry and rest of the country are awaiting an announcement from Pence, who is set to announce recommendations on how to handle the coronavirus nationwide.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press conference Monday that the COVID-19 situation is a “national problem, and we need federal leadership.”
“It cannot be done in a piecemeal method,” Cuomo said in the press conference. “You need federal parameters to stop the national patchwork of density reduction closings.”
Although it’s unclear what the federal government has planned, states around the country have been taking initiative as far as restrictions. New Jersey implemented a statewide curfew that disallows nonessential travel between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. Puerto Rico announced a curfew that would begin at 9 p.m. and also said most businesses would be closed over the next two weeks.
New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut announced that all dine-in services at bars and restaurants will end at 8 p.m. and move to takeout/delivery only. New York City already announced that restaurants and bars citywide must restrict their business to takeout and delivery.
Governors in Illinois, Washington, Massachusetts, Ohio, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Indiana, Maryland, and Michigan have decided to limit restaurants and bars to takeout and delivery across their entire states. California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered bars, breweries, and wineries to close. Restaurants in California may continue to operate normally, but must cut capacity by 50 percent.
Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, and Shake Shack are among a handful of brands that have announced closure of dine-in areas and a move toward to-go ordering only.
The CDC has recommended that no more than 50 people should gather.
