D.C. Orders Closure Of All Nonessential Businesses

[mahatmakanejeeves]

MAR 24, 1:07 PM

D.C. Orders Closure Of All Nonessential Businesses

PART OF FULL COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN D.C.
Rachel Kurzius

Mayor Muriel Bowser announced on Tuesday that D.C. would order the closure of all nonessential businesses as the city tries to keep people inside their homes and inhibit the spread of the coronavirus. Additionally, gatherings of more than 10 people have been prohibited in the District.

Last week, Bowser ordered the closure of restaurants, bars, movie theaters, gyms, spas, night clubs, meeting halls, libraries and senior centers. (Restaurants are still permitted to offer takeout and delivery services.) Now, other businesses are being added to the list, including personal services like nail and tanning salons, tattoo parlors, and barbershops, as well as additional retail stores, like clothing stores. Also considered nonessential? Tour guides and door-to-door solicitation.

“We have virtually shut down economic activity in our city,” Bowser said during Tuesday’s press conference, continuing to urge people to stay home.

On Tuesday evening, Bowser’s office released the order, which goes into effect on March 25 at 10 p.m. and lasts through April 24. It still encourages essential businesses to stay open, including healthcare-related operations (hospitals, clinics, dentists, pharmacies, medical marijuana dispensaries, etc.), food and household retailers (grocery stores, convenience stores, liquor stores, and hardware stores), childcare facilities, and financial institutions like banks and credit unions. Restaurants are still allowed to offer takeout and delivery, but barred from in-house service. Delivery businesses and rideshare companies can still operate, and bicycle sales and repair shops can, too.

[Read the latest updates about coronavirus in our region here.]

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[getagrip_already]

1. wonder if the bar at the trump hotel is still open? n/t

[DaBronx]

2. White House

Does that include the White House?

[Yonnie3]

4. Beat me by seconds

[Yonnie3]

3. 1600 Pennsylvania Ave included?

It performs a lot of nonessential services.

[spooky3]

5. I can't think of a single essential service Trump provides. nt

[IronLionZion]

6. Liquor stores open

I bought some liquor today just in case. I'm getting really nervous about the crowded grocery stores these days and trying to hold off as long as I can.

[In_The_Wind]

7. Can you shop online ?

I place an order, pay for it online. When I drive to pick up my order, it's delivered to my car.

Less exposure. Also less disappointment over empty store shelves.

[IronLionZion]

8. That's what it's come to

I live in downtown DC so everyone is doing that resulting in long lines. It's probably safer for the workers too since I pay for it online ahead of time without touching anything in the store.

[In_The_Wind]

9. I've been doing that for the past 3 weeks.

Except last Saturday. The store had everything in my order except for 3 pounds of deli meats. So, I walked in without a carriage. Yes, the rare roast beef, garlic chicken breast, smoked ham was all in stock. I put it in my shopping bag and went through the self checkout.

The store was far from empty. Lots of worried looking shoppers in the Hudson Valley of NY.

[IronLionZion]

10. Here's a disturbing grocery store infection visualization for you

https://www.reddit.com/r/dataisbeautiful/comments/fo8m30/oc_grocery_store_crowd_visualization_sample_size/

[In_The_Wind]

11. That gives me a bit more to think about.

Peanut butter or tuna fish might be better than deli for a while.