NJ Issues Rules On Youth Sports, Daycare, Horse Racing Reopenings

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey released guidance and rules on Saturday on the reopening of camps, child care, horse racing and organized sports amid the coronavirus outbreak. But the Murphy administration still left open some questions as to what can actually happen – especially in sports.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Friday during a news conference that horse racing will be allowed to open as early as Monday. Child care centers can open on June 15, organized sports on June 22, and youth day camps can begin opening on July 6. Read More: Gov. Murphy: NJ Day Care, Sports, Camps Can Resume In Coronavirus

Murphy, who said he won't address the public directly until 2:30 p.m. on Monday, announced 910 new cases and 113 more deaths on Saturday. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

But some of the new guidance raises questions as to whether sports, for instance, really can resume.

Baseball, for instance, has natural social distancing, but there is some contact – such as tagging a runner. The new rules say sports can resume "provided that they do not involve person-to-person contact or routinely entail individuals interacting within six feet of one another."

"We’re happy to hear that practices and workouts can start and it’s a step in the right direction," the USABL said in a statement. "But the governor’s announcement is very vague and we’re still looking for a clear understanding of when we can resume live games and competition and tournament play."

Murphy said he plans to work with sports officials to hammer out further details, saying his "administration has been steadfast in our commitment to let science, data, and facts guide New Jersey's restart and recovery process."

"In order to continue our momentum in restarting New Jersey’s economy, we must prepare our workforce to return to their jobs by ensuring a continuum of care for their children. Our child care centers, youth day camps, and organized sports will adhere to strict public health and safety protocols so that New Jerseyans can confidently participate in the restart and recovery process."

The NJSIAA released a statement, saying the governor’s executive order regarding organized sports "is a positive step."

"Specifically related to high school athletics, this executive order makes it clear that interscholastic sports may resume in accordance with reopening protocols issued by the NJSIAA – which, in turn, will be based on Department of Health protocols. The executive order also notes that activities related to high school sports may not resume any earlier than June 30, 2020.

“To establish a workable framework for a safe return, the NJSIAA has – as previously announced – convened a pair of specialized task forces. Establishing these two groups was an essential step because, given that interscholastic athletics – unlike other levels of sport – are school-based, they must be fully in sync with the overall return-to-school plans of our member schools.”

Here are the new rules and guidance:

Child Care Services

• Effective 6 a.m. on June 15, child care centers and other child care facilities are permitted to resume operations for all clients, provided that they comply with the COVID-19 Child Care Standards and other applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders.
• Each child care center must submit an attestation to the Department of Children and Families no later than 24 hours prior to the anticipated opening date, or in the case of currently operating emergency child care centers, within 14 days of the effective date of the order, attesting that it will follow all applicable health and safety standards, as detailed in the COVID-19 Child Care Standards.
• Centers will be required to screen children and staff each day, prior to entry into the center. Anyone exhibiting symptoms or with a fever more than 100.4 degrees will be prohibited from entering the center.
• Class and group sizes will be limited, and groups must be spaced out throughout the center. Staff members will not be able to move between groups.
• Staff will be required to wear cloth masks, and children over the age of 2 will be encouraged, whenever feasible, to wear masks. Masks will not be required when they would inhibit an individual's health. Masks for children under the age of 2 or during nap-time will be prohibited as they may pose a suffocation hazard for young children.
• Childcare centers will be required to engage in enhanced cleaning and sanitation practices.

Youth Day Camps

• Youth summer camps shall be permitted to operate on or after July 6, provided that they comply with the COVID-19 Child Care and Youth Summer Camp Standards and other applicable statutes, regulations, and Executive Orders.
• Youth summer camps that wish to operate on or after July 6 must submit an attestation to the Department of Health no later than 24 hours prior to the anticipated opening date, attesting that they will follow all applicable health and safety standards, as detailed in the COVID-19 Youth Summer Camp Standards.
• Residential and overnight camps are prohibited from operating.

Organized Sports

• Effective June 22, sporting activities, including organized sporting activities, are permitted in outdoor settings only, provided that they do not involve person-to-person contact or routinely entail individuals interacting within six feet of one another. Any sporting activities that involve person-to-person contact or individuals routinely interacting in close proximity (within six feet of one another) will remain prohibited in any setting.
• The Commissioner of the Department of Health shall impose health and safety standards regarding sporting activities before that date, and such activities must comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and Executive Orders, including restrictions on gatherings in place at the time the sporting activities occur.
• High school sporting activities under the jurisdiction of the NJSIAA may resume in accordance with reopening protocols issued by NJSIAA, which shall consider DOH guidance in issuing these protocols. However, these high school sporting activities cannot resume any earlier than June 30.

Horse Racing

• Effective at 6 a.m. on Monday horse racetracks can reopen with no spectators, and with health and safety protocols in place

They must:

• Prohibit non-essential individuals, which shall be narrowly defined by the racetrack permit holder in the policy, from entering racetracks, stables, and related facilities;
• Require the use of appropriate social distancing measures for individuals picking up or delivering equipment or materials;
• Require individuals to practice social distancing and maintain six feet or more between them, wherever feasible;
• Place restrictions on areas of the racetrack, including stabling facilities, as necessary, to limit person-to-person interactions;
• Require horses to be placed in stalls at least six feet apart, wherever feasible, to minimize human-to-human interaction;
• Stagger entry where practicable to limit the number of individuals entering and leaving racetracks, stables, New Jersey Racing Commission (NJRC) offices at the racetrack, the paddock, the detention barn, and any other facilities concurrently;
• Limit occupancy in restrooms to avoid over-crowding and maintain social distancing through signage;
• Limit meetings, including but not limited to race reviews with NJRC officials, to groups of 10 people or fewer;
• Require infection control practices, such as regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal;
• Provide sanitization materials, such as hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, to everyone entering the racetrack, including stabling facilities;
• Prohibit the sharing of horse racing equipment and gear, including but not limited to leads, water buckets, and tack;
• Require everyone entering the racetrack, including stabling facilities, to wear cloth face coverings, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations, except where doing so would inhibit the individual’s health or by a jockey while racing, and require everyone to wear gloves while on the premises.
• Conspicuously post signage with the social distancing, hygiene, and mask and glove requirements throughout the racetrack, including stabling facilities;
• Require frequent sanitization of high-touch areas including, at minimum, the following cleaning protocols:
  • Routinely clean and disinfect all high-touch areas in accordance with the Department of Health (DOH) and CDC guidelines, particularly in spaces that are accessible to staff, jockeys, trainers, veterinarians, NJRC employees, or other individuals, including, but not limited to, restroom and locker facilities, counter tops, hand rails, door knobs, other common surfaces, safety equipment, and other frequently touched surfaces including horse racing equipment, and ensure cleaning procedures following a known or potential exposure in compliance with CDC recommendations;
  • Clean and disinfect all equipment related to horse racing in accordance with CDC and DOH guidelines; and
  • Train and equip everyone responsible for sanitization to perform the above protocols effectively and in a manner that promotes the safety of everyone at the racetrack;
• Immediately eject any person from the racetrack, including the stabling facility, who refuses to comply with the policy implemented by the racetrack in accordance with this Order;
• Immediately separate and send home anyone who appears to have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 illness upon arrival at the racetrack, including stabling facilities, or who becomes sick during the day;
• Promptly notify any known person on the premises of the racetrack, including stabling facilities, of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the racetrack, including stabling facilities, consistent with the confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and any other applicable laws;
• Provide individuals with break time for handwashing throughout the day;
• Clean and disinfect the racetrack, including stabling facilities and the NJRC offices at the racetrack, in accordance with CDC guidelines when anyone at the site has been diagnosed with COVID-19 illness; and
• Continue to follow guidelines and directives issued by DOH, the CDC and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, as applicable, for maintaining a clean, safe and healthy work environment