Announcing “This is a war against coronavirus,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo has detailed sweeping new restrictions to help try and slow the spread of the coronavirus.

The governor said all bars, restaurants, gyms, theaters and casinos in the state will close tonight at 8 p.m. until further notice. Temporary changes to the liquor laws that will allow off-site sale of alcohol and bars, restaurants, breweries and wineries will be allowed to serve take-out for whatever they would normally serve.  This is to help protect businesses during the coronavirus-related closures.         

Cuomo says he is also planning on closing all New York schools later today.  There is also a ban on gatherings of 50 or more people, and he has waived fees to all state parks.

He's calling on the federal government to put universal plans in place and to building medical facilities in anticipation of a crush of new patients into the health care system. He is discussing plans to utilize the National Guard to help build additional medical facilities with pre-existing buildings to handle the influx of COVID-19 patients.          

He is going to set up mobile testing facilities on Long Island, in Rockland County and on Staten Island based on the success of the facility in New Rochelle.
New Jersey and Connecticut have rolled out the same restrictions.