As the death toll in Mexico's swine influenza (Swine Flu) epidemic touched 159 with nearly 2,000 others infected, authorities in Mexico City ordered the closure of all eateries, bars and cinemas as they stepped up efforts to contain the deadly outbreak, reports say.
Mexico's federal government has imposed the nationwide temporary closure of all schools, and restricted the opening of venues where people gather.
Consequently, restaurants, cafes, diners and other food outlets are prohibited from serving sit-down customers, though take-away service is exempted, city officials said.
Any establishment violating the decree will be shut and fined, the deputy mayor for the capital, Jose Angel Avila, said. He said all restaurants could only provide take-aways.
Bars, lounges, night clubs, theaters, cinemas, gyms and children's party halls are also included in the order, according to a notice published in the latest local government gazette.
The decree applies to the municipal corporation of Mexico City, the central zone of the capital that is home to eight million of the 20 million persons who live in the sprawling metropolis.
Also, all archeological sites have been closed to the public. The places, including the world-famous Aztec and Mayan pyramids, will be closed "until further notice," the National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement.
Meanwhile, tour organizers in Britain, France and Germany have canceled trips to Mexico, as have major U.S. cruise lines. Cuba said it was suspending all flights to and from Mexico until Friday.
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