Gov. Murphy: NJ Towns Can Add COVID-19 Restrictions On Businesses

NEW JERSEY - Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday that he will be signing an executive order granting municipalities and counties the option to close nonessential businesses after 8 p.m.

The order comes amid further restrictions announced Monday, which mandates restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges in the state to close indoor service between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., effective starting Thursday. Read more: Gov. Murphy Clarifies New Rules For NJ Indoor Dining, Barbers

“We know that congregating is not necessarily limited to restaurants, and that this is more of a problem in some areas than others," Murphy said.

Municipalities and counties do not have to impose additional operating hours restrictions if they do not wish to do so, Murphy said. The state's's approach to COVID-19's second wave is "to act surgically within hotspot areas and that means giving local officials the ability to take actions to prevent localized hotspots from becoming COVID wildfires,” he said.

The governor cited a new peer reviewed study published this week in the journal 'Nature', which concluded that indoor venues counted for roughly 80 percent of new infections in the early months of the pandemic, as reason for increased regulations around bars and restaurants. The study was based on mobility data from 98 million cell phones, according to Murphy.

“We have received numerous reports that as the night progresses, people begin to congregate, let their guard down and take fewer precautions," the governor said. "Again, we know this is not true everywhere, so we are empowering local officials ... to address unique situations when they feel that an operating hours restriction in the evening would help their efforts to stop the spread of COVID.”

Related: 9 COVID-19 Cases Linked To Leggetts In Manasquan: DOH

Murphy's new order comes as new regulations for restaurants, bars, clubs, lounges and casinos include were taking effect on Thursday:

• Businesses that serve food or drinks will not be able to operate their indoor premises between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• Outdoor dining can continue after 10 p.m., as can takeout and delivery services.
• Casinos will not be able to serve food or drinks between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., except for room service delivered to guest rooms and takeout.
• Seating at the physical bar in the indoor areas of bars and restaurants will be prohibited during all operating hours.

State Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli noted that recent at-home gatherings, notably Halloween parties, have led to nearly 70 cases in Union, Gloucester, Somerset, Essex and Cumberland counties.

“A Halloween party in Union alone ... led to 30 cases. Another in Gloucester led to 22 cases," Persichilli said. "A third Halloween party in Somerset led to nine cases and another in Cumberland led to three cases."

Persichilli also cited 14 outbreaks among hockey teams since the beginning of October, stating that “youth sports also continues to be a challenge.” The affected teams hailed from Gloucester, Union, Somerset, Bergen, Morris, Passaic and Mercer counties. They have led to more than 70 positive cases collectively, according to the commissioner.

On Monday, Murphy signed an executive order prohibiting interstate indoor K-12 club and league youth sports competitions indefinitely. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Impose New NJ Restrictions As COVID-19 Cases Spike

In his remarks, Murphy also noted 266,986 cases in the state since the pandemic began. The latest spot positivity rate was over 12 percent and the rate of transmission is 1.3.

There are currently 1,827 individuals in hospitals, a number the state has not seen since June 4, with 20 of those patients deceased yesterday. 360 patients are in critical care, the highest number reported since June 12, with 117 of those patients on ventilators, a number not seen since July 7.

“When you bring everything that we have done over the past several months together … we are in the midst of the war. Let there be no doubt,” Murphy said.

“Now, giving our local governments the ability to take surgical action within their own borders, we are prepared to fight this second wave, but none of this can be successful unless every New Jerseyan also recognizes their responsibility in this fight as well.”

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.