Tourists wearing a protective mask are seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on March 12, 2020 in New York City. Photo: AFP
–
–
For events of less than 500 people, the audience will be limited to half of the total seating capacity of each theater from this Friday at 17:00 local (22:00 GMT), Cuomo told reporters.
Are only except schools, hospitals, nursing homes and public transportation facilities in the state, he said.
“Theaters of Broadway they will turn off their lights from 17:00 (22:00 GMT) tonight, Friday, March 13, and will be closed until the week of April 13, “he confirmed. TodayTix, Broadway’s most popular ticket portal, which posted $ 26.7 million in revenue last week alone.
It will be the biggest closing of the theater district famous in the world that had on the billboard musicals like ‘The Lion King’ or ‘Hamilton’ since 2007, when a strike of theater employees interrupted shows for 19 days.
The subway is half empty and in many supermarkets out of toilet paper, rice, pasta or bread. The queues to pay are gigantic.
“People are a bit in panic, but I understand people who want to be prepared. I do not blame them, because our government has not done what it is supposed to do, responsibly, “he told AFP. Michael Schneider, 57, in line at a supermarket in the heart of Manhattan.
Meanwhile, this Thursday, March 12, 2020, the first case was reported at the headquarters of United Nations: a Philippine diplomat who was at the scene for the last time on Monday, March 9, tested positive for the new virus, diplomatic sources said. “As of today, the Philippine mission is closed, and all personnel have isolation instructions,” it was reported in a letter.
Museums closed
He Metropolitan Museum (Met), the largest in the world, which receives about seven million visitors each year, announced that it will close all its facilities from this Friday until further notice, and will hold a cleaning deep of the premises.
The same did the New York Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Brooklyn Museum of Art, among others.
“The priority of the Met is to protect and support our staff, volunteers and visitors, and we have already been taking several precautionary measures, with rigorous cleaning routines and in communication with the authorities,” said its president, Daniel Weiss.
Although the Met has no confirmed cases of the virus, “we believe that we must do everything we can to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our community,” he added.
The Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall reported that they will be closed from Thursday until at least March 31. The Tribeca Film Festival, scheduled for April, also announced its postponement.
“The health authorities are urging to stay away from each other with greater emphasis, and it is not possible for us to continue performing functions because that puts the artists, staff and the public at risk”Said the general manager of the Met Opera, Peter Yellow, it’s a statement.
The city of New York announced Wednesday for the first time in more than 200 years the postponement of its famous St. Patrick’s parade, which pays tribute to New Yorkers of Irish descent and brings together some two million people annually.
“I’m sad, but I understand,” he told AFP Joe Brady, 64, who was supposed to participate in one of the processions of St. Patrick. “I think the situation will improve sooner than they predict.”
“I have already reduced my departures a lot,” he said. Gregory Orr, an independent filmmaker. “I stored toilet paper and foodyes, just in case my wife falls ill and we can’t get out. “
“But it is not the zombie panic. New York is a very good place to be in an emergency, it knows how to defend itself, “he said.
– .
Related
