NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has been routinely asked about possibly shutdowns now that COVID-19 cases have surpassed 420,000, and cases and fatalities continue to rise.
Instead, Murphy continues to follow an alternative path from states like New York and Pennsylvania, one that he calls a “surgical approach:” Regulating certain activities while leaving shutdowns “on the table.”
While New Jerseyans are able to do a number of activities that they can’t do in neighboring states, they are still restricted from living the normal lives they were accustomed too before the coronavirus outbreak began in March (see list of activities that have reopened since May, as well the new limits imposed, below).
“Protecting the ability of our healthcare system to treat the ill is our paramount concern,” Gov. Phil Murphy said. “If the numbers begin to roll in where the ability to put that into question, we will have no choice but to act.”
Here are some areas of New Jersey life that Murphy has recently or restricted – or declared that they are hands-off, for now – and what may happen to them in the future:
Indoor dining
While Pennsylvania and New York are closing down their indoor dining through the new year, Murphy said New Jersey will not be following their lead – for now.
For now, indoor dining will maintain the recently imposed restrictions after a number were cases were linked to bars and similar establishments: a 10 p.m. curfew and no bar seating.
“We’ll stick with what we got,” Murphy said at a Dec. 11 press conference, “as far as indoor dining is concerned.”
While he’s been hesitant to impose lockdowns like he did in the spring, Murphy said newly developed predictive models cite worst-case scenarios that could force New Jersey to take such actions. The governor said such actions could be economically devastating, but necessary. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Recovery May Be ‘Years’ As COVID Vaccines Arrive
Last week, Murphy indicated that New Jersey could reach the levels it hit during the spring, pointing to models that showed the Garden State could once again have more than 8,000 hospitalizations – if the state doesn’t do enough to protect itself. Read more: Gov. Murphy Now Says NJ Daily COVID Cases Could Double To 12K
“Protecting the ability of our healthcare system to treat the ill is our paramount concern,” Murphy said during a news conference. “If the numbers begin to roll in where the ability to put that into question, we will have no choice but to act.”
Murphy, however, has indicated that he won’t impose further restrictions unless Congress provides more money to help financially strapped businesses.
Marilou Halvorsen, the New Jersey Restaurant and Hospitality Association’s president and chief executive officer, said during a recent virtual event with congressional members that 36 percent of hospitality businesses do not expect to survive next year without federal help.
She said 78 percent of business owners expect to lay off more employees. Halvorsen implored members of Congress during the event to get a deal done with the Trump administration even if it means settling for less money than they wanted.
“Please do not let perfect stand in the way of getting something done before the new year,” she said.
Limits on outdoor gatherings and indoor sports
This month, Murphy reversed the previous orders on outdoor gatherings from 150 people to 25-person, made effective on Monday, Dec. 7.
Indoor gathering limits have been capped at 10 people since November as a Thanksgiving holiday precautionary measure. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ To Lower Gathering Limits Amid Coronavirus Spikes
All indoor high school sports and youth sports are also suspended until at least Jan. 2. This means no high school or youth basketball, indoor ice hockey, wrestling, swimming or any other indoor sports (see the list of what you can and can’t do below).
“We do not take this step lightly. I am a huge sports fan and all of our kids play sports. I hope and intend to see the winter sports season in January,” the governor said at a press briefing last month. “But we are seeing outbreaks related to indoor sports and this a prudent, short-term step to slow the spread.”
“There have been 100 cases tied to youth hockey,” added Dr. Edward Lifshitz, from the state Department of Health. Read more: Gov. Murphy Limits Outdoor Gatherings To 25; Halts Indoor Sports
Indoor services such as beauty salons, movie theaters and tattoo parlors are currently open at limited capacity. Gyms, retail shops, libraries are also subject to the capacity restrictions.
Schools can be hybrid, fully in-person or remote
On schools, Murphy has essentially followed the words of Anthony Fauci, the immunologist who has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Fauci has said that communities and states should close bars before schools.
Murphy has suggested that schools will be the last thing he’ll close, saying that in-person education is so valuable that the state will work hard to make sure there are protections in place.
Murphy said that a small number of cases have been reported at schools, although there was a sharp jump after Thanksgiving. Then, New Jersey had its biggest jump in school coronavirus outbreaks and cases as a new report said the COVID-19 risk keeps rising for teachers and students. Read more: NJ School COVID Outbreaks Jump As New Report Says Risk Is Rising
Here is what has opened since May, and remains available to the public:
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Fishing charters and watercraft rentals reopened at 6 a.m. on May 17th
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Nonessential retail stores for online and phone ordering and curbside pickup, as well as nonessential construction, were allowed to resume at 6 a.m. on May 18th
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In-person automobile and motorcycle sales were allowed to return on May 20th
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Beaches were allowed to reopen on May 22nd
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Batting cages and golf ranges, with foursomes – not just pairings – were allowed to tee-off on May 22nd
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Shooting and archery ranges, horseback riding and private tennis clubs and community gardens were allowed to resume on May 22nd
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Elective and invasive surgeries were allowed to resume on May 26th
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Open houses to view real estate, with attendees wearing face coverings, resumed on June 14th
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Car washes were allowed to resume on June 14th
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Yard and garage sales were allowed to resume on June 14th
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Fireworks displays at public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes and lakeshores were allowed to resume on June 14th
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Outdoor dining reopened on June 15th
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Child care centers reopened on June 15th
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MVC driver services resumed on June 15th
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Municipal and private-club swimming pools reopened on June 22nd
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Non-contact organized sports activities restarted on June 22nd
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Beauty salons reopened on June 22nd
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Barber shops reopened on June 22nd
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Cosmetology shops reopened on June 22nd
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Day and medical spas (not steam rooms, saunas or shared bathing facilities) reopened on June 22nd
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Electrology facilities reopened on June 22nd
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Hair braiding shops reopened on June 22nd
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Massage parlors reopened on June 22nd
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Nail salons reopened on June 22nd
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Tanning salons reopened on June 22nd
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Tattoo parlors reopened on June 22nd
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Golf and tennis resumed competitions on June 22nd
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Baseball, softball, soccer and outdoor basketball resumed on June 22nd, but they are limited to non-contact drills and practices.
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Non-contact football drills resumed on June 22nd
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Inspections and road tests resumed on June 29th
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Indoor malls reopened on June 29th
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In-person clinical labs and hands-on programming at colleges were allowed to resume on July 1
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Career and training schools reopened on July 1st
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Gymnastic centers reopened on July 2nd
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Dance studios reopened on July 2nd
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Playgrounds reopened on July 2nd
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Amusement parks reopened on July 2nd
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Water parks reopened on July 2nd.
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Casinos reopened on July 2nd.
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Racetracks reopened for in-person bets on July 2nd
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Museums reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
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Aquariums reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
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Bowling alleys reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
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Shooting ranges reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
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Arcades reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
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Libraries reopened on July 2nd
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Gym and fitness centers opened only for individualized training, and by appointment, involving one person and/or your family on July 2nd
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Indoor pools reopened on July 3rd
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Youth summer camps and programs reopened on July 6th
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In-person graduations were allowed to begin on July 6th
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Baseball, softball, soccer and outdoor basketball competitions were allowed to resume on July 6th
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NJ Transit returned to full weekday service on July 6th
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MVC driver in-person driver services, including driver’s license renewals, resumed on July 7th
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NJ Transit’s 50-percent capacity limit was lifted on July 15th.
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Full football practices and competitions resumed on July 20th.
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Yoga and martial arts studios were allowed to resume on July 22nd.
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Gyms and indoor amusements reopened on Sept. 1.
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Indoor dining resumed on Sept. 4
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Movie theaters resumed on Sept. 4
With reporting by Tom Davis.
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This article originally appeared on the Holmdel-Hazlet Patch
