By: Scholastica (Gay) Cororaton
As the number of coronavirus cases continues to increase, many states are undertaking measures to minimize the spread of the virus through social distancing measures. The Department of Homeland Security has banned the entry of foreign nationals from China and from European countries for 30 days starting March 131. The Center for Disease Control has advised against holding gatherings of 50 people or more nationwide. The US government has issued guidelines urging people to avoid travel, going to bars, and eating out. States like Illinois, Washington, New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have ordered the temporary closures of restaurants, bars, entertainment, and recreation venues to prevent an increase in coronavirus cases.
While these measures are designed to keep people safe and avoid overloading the hospital system beyond capacity, these measures have an economic cost in terms of lost revenues, especially in states where these industries comprise a larger share of their economic output and employment should there be some temporary layoffs. States need to plan to mitigate these economic impacts.
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