New Jersey’s strict capacity limits for restaurants, gyms and other businesses because of the coronavirus pandemic will increase Friday from 25% to 35% as the outbreak in the state continues to slow and vaccination efforts increase, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.
Murphy, citing declining hospitalizations, a gradual decrease in new daily case numbers and the lowered rate of transmission of the virus, as reasons why certain businesses can increase indoor capacity.
The new order will go into effect Friday at 8 a.m., he said.
The timing comes ahead of Super Bowl weekend for bars and restaurants and the order eliminates a previous restriction forcing those businesses to close by 10 p.m.
“While some of our numbers are still high,” Murphy said during his regular briefing, “We believe that we can make this expansion without leading to undue further stress on our health care system.”
Unlike in other states where indoor restaurant capacity has been expanded and, in some cases, later rolled back, this is the first time since Murphy allowed indoor dining to resume that he increased capacity limits. While restaurants no longer need to close their doors at 10 p.m., municipalities and counties’ may still to enact local curfews that would require restaurants and other businesses to close as early as 8 p.m.
Indoor dining reopened in New Jersey in early September.
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Indoor seating at bars is still prohibited, however, Murphy said, since it “it creates the danger of close and prolonged proximity between patrons, bartenders, and servers.”
The indoor capacity increase also applies to entertainment and recreation businesses, including casinos and gyms, and all personal care businesses, such as barbershops and salons, Murphy said. All may now operate at 35% of capacity
“Let there be no mistake, all of the credit goes to the millions of you who have taken your responsibility for ending this pandemic to heart through constant social distancing, wearing your face masks and just exercising common sense,” Murphy said about the move.
Murphy also announced the indoor gathering limit for religious ceremonies or services, wedding ceremonies, political activities, and memorial services will increase to 35% with a maximum of 150 people. That’s also up from 25%, but keeps the total capacity limit the same.
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Matt Arco may be reached at [email protected].
