Photo: Stock Unsplash
March 20, 2020 By Michael Dorgan
Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that barber shops, hair and nail salons, tattoo parlors and other personal care providers will shutter across New York state from 8 p.m. Saturday.
It comes as almost 4,000 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the city with 26 fatalities, Mayor Bill de Blasio said on MSNBC this morning.
Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are adopting similar approaches as the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the world.
The mandatory forced closures are the latest in a swath of government measures enacted this week that have brought many businesses to a standstill.
Most businesses have already been ordered shut – although bars, restaurants, and cafes are allowed to provide delivery and takeout.
“These temporary closures are not going to be easy, but they are necessary to protect the public health,” Cuomo said in a tweet announcing the measures this morning.
It is unclear how long these restrictions will stay in place as businesses and their employees face uncertain times ahead.
#BREAKING: NY, CT, NJ, and PA will temporarily close all barber shops, nail & hair salons, tattoo shops, & similar services in our four states effective tomorrow at 8PM.
These temporary closures are not going to be easy, but they are necessary to protect the public health.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) March 20, 2020
De Blasio also renewed his call this morning for a “shelter in place” rule for the city – which Cuomo has stated he is against – that would further limit public life and order people to stay at home in order to combat the spread of coronavirus.
“I think every place that’s at the front line of this crisis needs to move to shelter in place to protect ourselves,” de Blasio said this morning. “Anything nonessential needs to stop.”
“We’re not trying to be draconian, we’re trying to save lives and protect people,” he said.
Yesterday Cuomo unveiled new measures that will help relieve stress that families are facing during the global pandemic.
Under the plan, mortgage payments for will be waived for 90 days for individuals facing financial hardships — such as a loss of full-time employment — with no negative effects to credit scores. There will also be no late payment or online payment fees and all foreclosures will be postponed or suspended, Cuomo said.
In addition, fees will be waived for overdrafts, ATMs and credit cards from state-chartered banks.
Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that New York is adding barbers, salons and other personal care providers to its list of mandatory business closures (Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo)
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