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By now, most of New York City is heeding the call to #StayHomeNYC. But there are still some folks out there who refuse to stay home, putting themselves and others at risk. We were happy to collaborate with DoNYC to share some reasons why it’s so important to stay home right now. See below for our latest, which was originally shared on their website.


We get it. There’s a lot going on right now. The coronavirus (COVID-19) is having a dramatic impact on the lives of New Yorkers and humanity worldwide. We’re living through an extraordinary moment not only for public health but for the ways we work and interact with our loved ones and family. It can be hard to know what to do or how to react.

But while it might not be what you want to hear, the best thing you can do right now is STAY HOME.

Staying at Home Saves Lives

The most important action you can take to help reduce a surge in cases (known as flattening the curve) and prevent our healthcare system from getting overwhelmed is to stay at home. This is called social (or physical) distancing, and can dramatically help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. When practicing social distancing you should:

  • Stay home as much as possible
  • Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others, whenever possible
  • Do not gather in large crowds
  • Work from home, if possible
  • Avoid all nonessential travel
  • Avoid all nonessential social interactions

Social distancing is critical because this virus appears to be spreading by people who either have very mild symptoms or none at all. So even if you feel fine, you could unintentionally expose someone to the virus if you’re carrying it. And for the elderly, people with compromised immune systems, or those with chronic or respiratory conditions, that exposure could make them severely ill. If too many people show up at hospitals with severe cases, we might not have enough resources to support their recovery. New data is showing that a lot.

Part of the reason the city has taken severe measures like closing all restaurants and public spaces is to encourage people to stay home and limit community spread. It’s a difficult decision, but it might be what buys us enough time and resources so that we can respond to this virus and save as many lives as we can.