American Cities Go Eerily Quiet in the Age of ‘Shelter in Place’

(Bloomberg) -- From Los Angeles to New York City and New Orleans, American thoroughfares that would normally be teeming with people as spring approaches are empty and quiet.

Governors and mayors have ordered the closure of non-essential retail such as restaurants and bars while urging residents to stay home, all in a frenzied effort to contain the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Sports seasons and entertainment events have been cancelled or postponed and other large gatherings banned.

As the Covid-19 pathogen has spread from China and Europe to the U.S., many parts of America are now entering a time of mass, self-imposed house arrest. 

Los Angeles 

Business and public life were dramatically curtailed on March 15 in Los Angeles, after California Governor Gavin Newsom urged older people and those with chronic health conditions to isolate themselves in their homes. Hours later, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti ordered bars, nightclubs, movie theaters and gyms to close, while telling restaurants to limit their business to takeout and delivery. 

“This is an absolutely critical moment in our city’s history,” Garcetti said in a Facebook broadcast, comparing it with previous disasters like wildfires and earthquakes.

New York City 

New York, the financial and cultural capital of the U.S., quickly folded after Mayor Bill de Blasio declared an emergency in the nation’s largest city.  Broadway theaters have gone dark and streets and train stations are sparsely populated. The city’s public schools—encompassing some 1.1 million students—are closed until at least April 20.

As confirmed coronavirus infections in the city rise, more severe restrictions on movement are now under consideration.

Seattle 

Washington state, the original epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S., is home to giant corporations including Amazon.com Inc. and Microsoft Corp., both of which have urged employees to work from home. In early March, the Seattle area became the first metropolitan center to confront Covid-19 with confinement measures such as school closures and patient quarantines.

Miami

This time of year is usually the high season for Florida beaches, where Americans from colder climes and spring-breakers nationwide flock to relax and party on the beach. Not this year: On March 15, Fort Lauderdale and Miami closed several stretches of beach and ordered bars and restaurants to operate at 50% capacity and close early.

Audience-Free Live Shows 

The pandemic has thrown the entertainment industry into disarray, too. Live shows are being taped without an audience, theaters are shut down in some cities and big movie openings including the James Bond sequel “No Time to Die” and Walt Disney Co.’s “Black Widow” have been pushed back. 

Washington D.C. 

The nation’s capital is also shutting down non-essential businesses. The pandemic has taken a toll on tourism there, across the country and worldwide. 

Extreme measures by governments could cost the tourism industry 50 million jobs, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council industry group. Airlines and cruises have been especially hard-hit: The health crisis has left hundreds of planes grounded, and dozens of ships remain docked. The pandemic will impact up to 25% of all trips previously estimated to take place in 2020. 

New Orleans 

Louisiana declared a state of emergency on March 11, as the mayor of New Orleans and Governor John Bel Edwards pleaded with people to stop congregating in large groups. Police used loudspeakers to tell crowds in the French Quarter to return to their hotels.

“Your actions are jeopardizing public health,” officials said in videos posted on social media. 

San Francisco 

The San Francisco Bay Area has taken some of the nation’s strongest actions, leading to a quasi-shutdown of an area that encompasses Silicon Valley.  The biggest local employers, including Alphabet’s Google and Facebook Inc., had already encouraged or mandated that employees work from home.

The shelter-in-place orders direct people to stay home and maintain social distancing of six feet when forced to emerge from their residences for groceries or medicine. 

“My fellow San Franciscans, what we are asking everyone to do is to remain at home for all but the most essential outings, for your safety and for the safety of those around you,” Mayor London Breed said March 16. “It’s the new normal temporarily in an effort to protect public health.”

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