New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont are taking a regional approach to slowing the spread of COVID-19.
All three governors have established standards for crowd capacity and gatherings, based on guidance form the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Restaurants and bars will move to take-out and delivery services only, effective 8 p.m. today. These establishments will be provided a waiver for carry-out alcohol.
The three governors are also temporarily closing movie theaters, gyms, and casinos at 8 p.m. today.
"Our primary goal right now is to slow the spread of this virus so that the wave of new infections doesn't crash our health care system, and everyone agrees social distancing is the best way to do that," Cuomo said in a statement. "I have called on the federal government to implement nationwide protocols but in their absence, we are taking this on ourselves."