As COVID-19, or coronavirus, paralyzes New York City, with Mayor Bill de Blasio taking the unprecedented step in closing schools through April 20, and restaurants and bars in the interim, the verdict is still out on how much the virus has had on local businesses in Norwood.

A trip along the neighborhood’s East 204th Street and Bainbridge Avenue business corridor finds many merchants and customers discussing the inconvenience of complying with new city restrictions for eateries, which have been ordered to simply serve take out food or have it delivered. Delivery drivers who’ve relied on e-bikes will not face any summonses while the restaurant ban is in place, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Inside Nicky’s Coffee Shop on Bainbridge Avenue, customers were notified that starting March 17, they could no longer come to sit inside the restaurant as per city guidelines to limit the gathering of more than 50 people.  Two seniors, who declined to be identified, complained that going to Nicky’s was part of their daily routine to incorporate walking with eating.  “I come here to get chicken soup and toast.  I like coming to sit at the counter,” one senior said.

Approaching merchants inside their shops elicited a variety of responses to the Norwood News.  “No, no, business is fine,” responded a deli worker.  One worker joked in Spanish about “what coronavirus?” dancing to loud music inside his empty barbershop.

Leroy’s Pharmacy on East 204th Street has heeded the warnings of city, state, and federal governments, placing a television in the window informing residents of how to protect themselves from coronavirus. Meantime, just down the block, Mosholu Public Library closed, following an announcement by the New York Public Library that it will close its system until March 31.

A few miles south in Bedford Park a cashier at a Chinese takeout did not find humor in the severe measures caused by the virus. Linda Lin has worked four years at Ka Wah on Valentine Avenue near East 204th Street.  “The last two weeks business has been down 30 to 50 [percent],” Lin said.

All the workers at Ka Wah are originally from China and the establishment has been located in Bedford Park for more than 20 years under different ownership.  Lin finds it hurtful when people associate the outbreak with the Chinese.  She says the business has been the target of prank calls and jokes, mostly by rowdy kids, about “cooking bats.”

Still, Lin is more worried about the decrease in business and when the downward trend will end.  “It’s been going down, but [we felt it] especially this week,” she said about takeout activity. “[Now] it’s getting serious.”

State and City’s Response
For the last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo have consistently updated New Yorkers through a marathon of news conferences. The news on the coronavirus, which was originally detected in Wuhan Province, China, has caused forced the state to close schools for in-house learning until April 20, though de Blasio has warned that the city could very well extend it to the end of the school year. After the city announced it will close the schools beginning this week, the Archdiocese of New York, which initially closed catholics schools for just one week, followed suit, closing schools until April 20.

For now, city and state officials are anticipated the deadly virus, which has claimed seven lives in New York City as of press time, will have an increased number of cases over the next few weeks, prompting such a response. The MTA system remains open, while alternate side parking remains in effect.

While nursing homes are no longer accepting visitors, Rikers Island is following suit, at least for a month.

De Blasio and Cuomo, meantime, look to maximize the number of available beds across the country while the virus runs its course.

Health Tips
The coronavirus has no cure, and its potency is unmatched, even with the deadly H1N1 virus of 2009, also known as Swine Flu, that killed 4,000 people across the country.

Health officials from all levels of government have stressed the need for so-called social distancing, limiting any social interaction for several weeks until the virus runs its course.