New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Says People Should Prepare for a ‘Shelter-in-Place’ Order in Coming Days

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is warning New Yorkers that they should prepare for a “shelter-in-place” order in the coming days.

The mayor said that a decision about an order will come in the next 48 hours. 

“We are all deeply concerned … this is quite clear this is a fast growing crisis,” de Blasio said during a press conference on Tuesday. “All New Yorkers, even though a decision has not been made by the city or the state, I think that all New Yorkers should be prepared right now for the possibility of a shelter-in-place order.” 

#BREAKING Mayor de Blasio says New Yorkers should prepare for a possible “shelter-in-place” since the crisis is growing. A decision could be made within the “next 48 hours”. Total #coronavirus confirmed cases now in NYC: 814 #coronavirusnyc #NewYork pic.twitter.com/dNzjnf6Jpg

— Linda Schmidt (@LSchmidtFox5) March 17, 2020

CNBC reports that there are now 814 confirmed cases of coronavirus in New York City. Of the confirmed cases, 248 are in Queens, 277 in Manhattan, 157 in Brooklyn, 96 in the Bronx and 36 in Staten Island.

Seven people in the city have died so far, de Blasio said during his press conference.

De Blasio said that he understands a shelter-in-place order in NYC would leave residents facing “tremendously substantial challenges” and that he isn’t taking the decision lightly.

“I’m hearing constantly from people who are tremendously worried about how they’re going to make ends meet,” de Blasio said. “In that scenario, a shelter-in-place begs a lot of questions. What is going to happen with folks who have no money?”

The mayor compared coronavirus to the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed an estimated 50 million people and the economic impact to the Great Depression.

“In terms of the economic dislocation, I think it’s fair to say we are going to quickly surpass anything we saw in the Great Recession and the only measure or the only comparison will be the Great Depression,” he said.

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