Newark mayor imposes curfew amid coronavirus spike, prompting some residents to worry about second shutdown

Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, New Jersey, announced on Monday that nonessential businesses across the city would be required to close by 8 p.m. local time beginning on Tuesday.

According to WCBS-TV, Baraka said that the move is due to a sharp spike in COVID-19 cases in Newark residents. 

"Even though Newark's population accounts for a third of Essex County, Mayor Ras Baraka tweeted that the number of COVID cases there is more than every other city in Essex County combined," the station reported. 

Indeed, Baraka took to Twitter with the dire statistic on Sunday, writing, "Today Newark had more COVID-19 cases than every other city in Essex County combined! We are witnessing a serious spike and tomorrow we will begin taking serious measures. Wear your mask!"