March 11: Bill de Blasio said “If you’re not sick, you should be going about your life” and "People should still be going out to eat at restaurants"

See Mayor Says That Healthy People Should Still Be Dining Out by Serena Dai of NY Eater. Excerpt:

"People should still be going out to eat at restaurants, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press conference about the new coronavirus on Wednesday — emphasizing that the virus “does not transmit through food and drink.” 

A week into the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York City, restaurateurs across the city say they’re already seeing reservation cancellations, while four huge dim sum restaurants in Sunset Park have closed in response to dropping sales as more people limit public outings.

In response to a question about how the city would help curb the economic impact, the mayor mentioned new no-interest loans for small businesses that experience a 25 percent decline or more due to new coronavirus. He also said that they’re “telling people to not avoid restaurants, not avoid normal things that people do.” 

“If you’re not sick, you should be going about your life,” the mayor said."