March 2020. In two new big breaking developments, New York City announced that its public schools—the nation’s largest school system—will close until Apr 20, and the Federal Reserve today announced that it cut the target interest rate to near zero to support the economy during the pandemic. In other developments, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo urged private businesses to aggressively consider voluntary closures and called on the federal government to deploy the military to help retrofit existing buildings to medical facilities to free up hospital beds. “It is only a matter of time before ICU beds are full,” he said on Twitter, adding that only the federal government has the ability to do that fast enough. As of today, New York has reported 729 cases, which includes 329 in New York City and 196 in Westchester County. Ahead of St Patrick’s Day celebrations, several US cities announced measures to curb crowds. For example, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh today announced that until further notice, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs must reduce capacity by 50%, follow social distancing guidance, and not allow lines outside. The city also loosened rules for places that serve food to allow for delivery services.
Mar 2020. Coronavirus in America
