How Coronavirus Is Impacting NYC’s Food World

News of COVID-19 started to impact NYC restaurant’s scene weeks ago, when the first reported deaths happened in China. Even when there were no confirmed cases stateside, New York’s major Chinatowns — in Manhattan, Flushing, and Sunset Park — suffered major declines in business due to fears of spread. But in March, New York had its first confirmed case, from a woman who recently traveled to Iran, and since then, the number of people testing positive for the novel coronavirus have increased. Although most people will experience only minor symptoms, the fast spread and vulnerability of certain people has turned it into a public health crisis — and one that’s deeply impacting the economic future of all the city’s restaurants, regardless of cuisine. Here’s where to check in on the updates, and check for more sanitary recommendations on the city’s website.