Eastview Mall in Victor, N.Y., is a near empty Sunday. The coronavirus outbreak has shuttered small and large businesses across the country. [SHAWN DOWD/ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE]

Gannett, the owner of USA TODAY and more than 260 daily local media properties, is launching a nationwide effort to help communities support local small businesses struggling during the coronavirus crisis.

The media company announced Monday a new website, supportlocal.usatoday.com, that will allow users to select local businesses in their community to support by buying gift cards for use at a later time. Visitors and business owners can also add local businesses to the platform.

“We feel that local businesses are such a core part of the fabric of the country and the communities we all live in,” said Kevin Gentzel, Gannett's chief revenue officer. “They really are a reflection of the heartbeat of America.”

Last Wednesday, Gentzel and Maribel Perez Wadsworth, president of Gannett's news division and publisher of USA TODAY, wrote a joint op-ed in USA TODAY urging local communities to support small businesses during the crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has ground everyday life in the U.S. and other parts of the world to a halt. More than 35,000 cases of illness have been reported in the U.S. and more than 470 people have died.

Small businesses have been hit hard. Many shut down to help curb the spread of the virus, though essential businesses have largely remained open, including grocery stores, gas stations and pharmacies. Many restaurants are also open, but only offer takeout or delivery orders.

Dinner reservation app OpenTable released new data showing just how severe the situation is for restaurants throughout the country. Sit-down dining at U.S. restaurants that participate in the company's reservation system have screeched to a halt. Reservations and walk-ins on Saturday were down 100% from the same day in 2019, according to OpenTable.

Lawmakers are working on emergency packages to help small businesses cover expenses as they remain shut down while consumers shelter at home and practice social distancing.

On Saturday during a White House coronavirus task force briefing, President Donald Trump said he talked with thousands of small business owners about the crisis in a conference call. He also has spoken with restaurant industry representatives.

“I assured them my administration is doing everything within its very considerable power to support them and their employees,” Trump said.

Default nav-oc Naviga Writer 2020-03-23T16:19:36Z No false no yes NEWS By Brett Molina, USA TODAY mo.derek.helling