Photo Courtesy of Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office
The NYPD will be out in neighborhoods across the city to ensure compliance with new outbreak activity policies, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea noted.
By Forum Staff
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday announced new guidelines related to the coronavirus outbreak that City authorities are set to enforce.
Effective Sunday night, the City began to enforce the closure of all non-essential businesses in the five boroughs, pursuant to State regulations. Only businesses with essential functions will be permitted to operate. Examples include grocery stores, pharmacies, internet providers, food delivery, banks, financial institutions and mass transit. Businesses that provide essential services must implement rules that help facilitate social distancing. The NYPD will be out in neighborhoods across the city to ensure compliance with these policies, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea noted.
The City is also enforcing the following rules for non-vulnerable individuals with fines and mandatory closures, according to the mayor: no non-essential gatherings—any concentration of people outside their home must be limited to workers providing essential services; practice social distancing in public (6 feet or more); limit use of public transportation to only when absolutely necessary; sick individuals should not leave home except to receive medical care.
Correctional Health Services is now screening detainees before entering and leaving City jail facilities, de Blasio also noted. Those who manifest symptoms while attempting to enter will be isolated from the general population. All staff will be screened before entering, as well. To ensure the Correctional Health Services is able to adequately house detainees with COVID-19, the Department of Correction is utilizing its communicable disease unit and is opening additional housing units to expand spaces for isolation and increase social distancing.
The has already banned team sports and revoked all permits for organized sports and large gatherings, and has increased the presence of NYPD and Parks Enforcement Patrol officers to enforce social distancing. The City is closely coordinating with the State to evaluate these efforts and will consider expanded restrictions as necessary, the mayor said.
Signage will be by NYC Parks at all fields and courts to indicate that all tournaments and sports practices have been cancelled. In addition, Parks has closed all nature centers and recreation centers, and many concessions including ice rinks, amusement parks, carousels, indoor tennis facilities.
Playgrounds run by the Parks Department remain open to provide children with solitary, active recreation. It is critical to practice social distancing among people who do not live in the same household while playing on the playground, de Blasio emphasized. Playgrounds will be monitored by the NYPD and Parks Enforcement officers, and new signage will warn parents and guardians to maintain social distancing among children. Over the next week, the Parks Department will evaluate compliance and adopt more stringent rules if needed.
All Shape Up NYC fitness classes, Urban Park Ranger tours, and outdoor events including the annual Street Games festival have been cancelled until further notice.
On Monday, March 23, NYC Ferry began operating on a modified weekday schedule. Ferry services will run from 6:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. daily: Rockaway operates every 60 minutes; Astoria operates every 50 minutes.
As of Wednesday morning, there were more than 26,000 confirmed coronavirus cases in NYC. For regular updates on the latest developments with coronavirus in the city, text COVID to 692-692. New Yorkers can text COVIDESP to 692-692 for updates in Spanish. You will receive regular SMS texts with the latest news and developments.