Millions face up to life indoors amid closures

Millions of US citizens were holed up at home on Monday as a result of the novel coronavirus, with many of them thrown out of work until further notice, as authorities tightened their epic clampdown and the list of businesses forced to close across the United States extended to restaurants, bars, gyms and casinos.

Meanwhile, the number of infections in the US climbed to about 4,300 as of Monday.

Separately, at least 83 people in the US have died of the virus, according to Johns Hopkins University and public health agencies, with the hardest-hit state, Washington, accounting for the bulk of the fatalities, including six more announced on Monday.

The shutdowns touched every corner of the country: Blackjack dealers in Las Vegas; theme park workers in Orlando, Florida; restaurant and bar employees nationwide, and winery workers in California. At least eight states called on all bars and restaurants to close at least part of the day. And casinos shut down in New Jersey.

Across the country, health officials, politicians and business leaders talked about "social distancing" and "flattening the curve", or encouraging people to avoid others so as to slow the spread of the virus and keep US hospitals from being overwhelmed with a sudden deluge of patients.

The White House on Monday also urged all older US citizens and those with underlying health conditions to stay home and away from other people. And it is recommending that all people work from home, avoid bars and restaurants, and avoid social gatherings or groups of more than 10 people.

Ohio's top health official halted the state's presidential primary, hours before voting was to begin on Monday.

The governor of West Virginia－the only US state without a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, also declared a state of emergency on Monday so certain rules on personnel and purchasing could be waived.

The outbreak has also taken a major toll on US sports. Major League Baseball said it would further delay the start of its 2020 season, originally scheduled for next week.

And organizers of the Kentucky Derby, planned on Tuesday to announce a postponement of the May 2 event to September due to the coronavirus outbreak, media reported.

Only once before in the 146-year history of the "Run for the Roses", a nickname for the Kentucky Derby, has it been postponed from its traditional date of the first Saturday in May: it was delayed a month in 1945 because of World War II.

Agencies Via Xinhua