Just hours after announcing the closure of the nation's largest public school district, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio informed New Yorkers that all bars and restaurants will be closing as the city continues to fight the spread of the coronavirus.

De Blasio made the announcement in a statement around 10pm Sunday evening, limiting the city’s 27,000 restaurants, bars and cafes to food takeout and delivery beginning Tuesday.

'Our lives are all changing in ways that were unimaginable just a week ago. We are taking a series of actions that we never would have taken otherwise in an effort to save the lives of loved ones and our neighbors,' de Blasio said as he ordered restaurants and bars to close effective Tuesday morning at 9am.

'Now it is time to take yet another drastic step,' he said.

Scroll down for video

Just hours after announcing the closure of the nation's largest public school district, New York City mayor, Bill de Blasio (pictured on Sunday), informed New Yorkers that all bars and restaurants will be closing as the city continues to fight the spread of the coronavirus

In a series of tweets, the mayor wrote: 'The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together'

In a series of tweets, the mayor wrote: 'The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that cycle.

'Tomorrow [Monday], I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery.'

The mayor also said that nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses and concert venues 'must all close'.

'This is not a decision I make lightly. These places are part of the heart and soul of our city. They are part of what it means to be a New Yorker. But our city is facing an unprecedented threat, and we must respond with a wartime mentality,' he added.

De Blasio made the decision to close the city's schools earlier on Sunday, sending more than 1.1 million children home in hopes of curbing the spread of coronavirus.

The order to close the schools begins on Monday through at least April 20 and possibly for the school year.

The order for bars and restaurants to close will be effective Tuesday morning at 9am

The mayor also said that nightclubs, movie theaters, small theater houses and concert venues 'must all close'

Several bars were vacant over the weekend, including Peter Dillion's (pictured) Pub in Manhattan

McFadden's Saloon (pictured) in Manhattan was also empty on Saturday as New Yorkers were warned not to gather in large crowds amid the coronavirus outbreak

New York City has a total of 326 confirmed cases of the virus and five deaths. In the state of New York there are more than 700 cases.

The mayor called it a 'very troubling moment, a moment when I'm just distraught at having to take this action, but I became convinced over the course of today that there is no other choice'.

De Blasio said he will be ordering hospitals to cancel non-emergency surgeries beginning on Monday.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo weighed in on de Blasio's decision and said: 'This action is necessary to reduce density and mitigate the spread of #COVID19.'

The shutdown affects the city's nearly 1,900 public schools. Many private schools already have closed.

De Blasio said remote learning will begin for students K-12 on March 23.

In the United States, there are more than 3,700 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 60 deaths

'Our colleagues at the Department of Education have in these last weeks been setting up a remote learning system. It has never been attempted by the city of New York on this scale to say the least,' de Blasio said.

Over the next few days, teachers will be trained how to teach remotely, de Blasio said, adding that the city needs 'our educators'.

'These children need you. These families need you. Keep their education going. Help those seniors to still graduate, we don't want to lose that,' the mayor said.

Schools in Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk counties will also close for two weeks beginning Monday.

In the United States, there are more than 3,700 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and more than 60 deaths.

Globally, there are more than 169,000 confirmed cases and more than 6,500 deaths.