New COVID Rules For Weddings, Summer Camps Announced In NJ

NEW JERSEY — As New Jersey marks one year since the coronavirus pandemic began, the state’s reopening continues. Gov. Phil Murphy announced this week that the indoor capacity for wedding receptions would increase and sleepaway camps can return.

The indoor capacity for wedding receptions will expand to 35 percent of a venue’s capacity up to 150 people, with another 150 people permitted outside, Murphy said during a news conference.

Additionally, sleepaway camps will be able to resume their operations this summer. Both actions take effect at 6 a.m. Friday.

Like with indoor dining, people will have to wear face coverings unless they are eating and drinking, while they are seated, Murphy said.

“Because we know these events take time to plan, and we see things slowly moving in the right direction, we can safely take this step,” Murphy said. “We want people to be able to celebrate the good things.”

Because both events have what Murphy called “long runways” of planning before actually taking place, Murphy said this isn’t the state declaring victory over the pandemic.

“Our numbers have come down, but they’re sort of in a zone right now,” Murphy said. “But we do believe we’re going to get there, particularly when you add the proliferation of the vaccine distribution.”

The proliferation includes the addition of Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine to join the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, both of which are already being administered.

Murphy said New Jersey has a long way to go still, and he doesn’t envision opening up 100 percent and lifting mask mandates at this time, as other states have.

“We’d like to be doing more on restaurants right now,” Murphy said. “With the variants and the transmissibility, we just don’t think that’s a responsible step to take.”

Read more: Gov. Murphy Says COVID Variant Slowing NJ's Reopening: Here's How

Last month, Murphy did expand indoor dining capacity to 35 percent, saying that another expansion will be coming “sooner than later.” When it comes, it would most likely be 50 percent, Murphy said. Read more here: NJ Indoor Dining May Soon Hit 50 Percent Amid COVID: Gov. Murphy

Murphy also recently announced that houses of worship can begin operating at 50 percent capacity, effective immediately. Read more here: NJ Allows More Inside Houses Of Worship To Open Amid COVID-19

As of Wednesday, there had been 2,190,179 COVID-19 vaccinations administered statewide, including about 740,000 who had already gotten their second dose.

See related: What You Can Do Amid COVID In NJ - And What’s Next With Vaccines