NJ Eases COVID-19 Rules For Proms, Graduations, Other Activities

NEW JERSEY — A number of celebrations and events will be allowed to move forward in the state this year now that capacity restrictions will be eased amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Phil Murphy announced on Monday.

The governor, however, stopped short of expanding capacities at bars and restaurants, and he drew some criticism for not taking a bigger step despite touting the Monday move as a "major announcement." Read more: WATCH: NJ Makes Major COVID Announcement On Reopenings

Indoor gathering capacities for the following are set to increase to 50 percent, with a maximum of 250 individuals, on May 10:

• Private catered events (including weddings and school proms)
• Political events
• Funerals
• Memorial services
• Performances

In addition, dance floors will be allowed to open at private catered events (including weddings and school proms) with mask-wearing and social distancing in place.

Those expansions would not include bars and nightclubs, Murphy said. The governor said the virus spreads too easily in those settings and the state is not ready to open those up yet.

Murphy said he wasn't ready to expand restaurant capacity either, though he said he hoped to do so "sooner than later."

Murphy said events that are being catered "have a higher ability to police" COVID-19 issues than bars and restaurants.

“This allowance for dance floors is only applicable to these closed, closely supervised events. Dance floors, for instance, at bars and other businesses such at nightclubs will remain closed at this time. As we know, they are less controlled and more hospitable, unfortunately, for this virus," Murphy said.

State officials are expected to issue prom and graduation guidance by the end of Monday.

"If you've got a 1,000-seat high school stadium, and you can successfully get to 50 percent capacity and 6 feet apart by doing so ... how many people can you have at your graduation? You could have 1,000 people: 500 in the stand, 500 in the field," Murphy said.

“We are doing this both because we are expecting the downward trend to continue over the next few weeks, and because we want to give businesses the ability to plan ahead — not just businesses, by the way — schools among others, the ability to plan ahead and fully prepare."

Murphy also:

• Increased the outdoor gathering limit from 200 to 500. "We would hope to increase this before Memorial Day perhaps substantially," he said. "That would require all of us doing the right thing, including getting vaccinated."
• Allowed outdoor capacity for large venues (1,000 or more fixed seats) to increase to 50 percent, with 6 feet of distancing between groups. The current limit is 30 percent capacity for venues with 2,500 fixed seats or more.
• Outdoor amusement businesses, including carnivals and fairs such as the New Jersey State Fair and Six Flags Great Adventure, will be able to operate at 50 percent capacity beginning May 10.“We think this is only fair — no pun intended — and will allow our county organizations to move forward confidently with planning for their summer events," he said.
• Guidance is expected to be issued Wednesday on both day and overnight camp operations.

Additionally, the governor remarked that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reviewing its outdoor guidelines, which could mean more reopenings in the state in the coming weeks.

“We will be prepared to relax the 6-foot distancing requirement outdoors accordingly should — and I say should — the CDC move in that direction," Murphy said.

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

Murphy previously lifted the outdoor gathering limit to 200 individuals on April 2. Restaurants and bars are currently operating at 50 percent capacity for indoor dining, excluding employees (there are no numeric capacity limitations on outdoor dining). Banquet halls can host private events at 35 percent of the room capacity or 150 persons. Bar seating is still prohibited.

Murphy said he looks forward to increasing indoor dining capacity limits "in the near future."

“As we have said from Day One, we have been eager to be able to relax the restrictions as soon as the numbers gave us confidence that we can do so safely and responsibly, and that time has come," the governor said. "I would hope that this serves as the first set of announcements of I hope many sets of announcements over the next number of weeks.”

In response to the governor's remarks on Monday, the New Jersey Republican Party blasted Murphy over not lifting certain restrictions as it pertains to indoor dining establishments.

“New Jersey’s economy continues to go belly up as we’ve experienced 1/3rd of small businesses close for good and the 7th worst unemployment rate in the nation, and yet Phil Murphy’s abhorrent lack of judgement and compassion was on full display again today as he refused to lift his self-imposed restrictions on many small businesses, including indoor dining establishments," New Jersey Republican State Committee Executive Director Tom Szymanski said in a statement.

Murphy's announcement comes as California officials look to lift all COVID-19 restrictions on businesses, gatherings and recreational activities on June 15, though a statewide mask mandate will remain in place. Read more: CA To Fully Reopen June 15; 16 Counties Move Tiers

In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont announced that coronavirus business restrictions will end May 19 except for the state's mask mandate. Read more: CT Full Coronavirus Reopening: 5 Things To Know

Murphy has been hesitant to reveal his plans for a possible large-scale reopening even as he's faced the issue at recent news conferences, and he's been questioned why New Jersey hasn't followed in Connecticut's footsteps.

"If you're outside and cannot socially distance, you need to wear a mask," Murphy said. "If you're outside and you can, you don't need to wear a mask. It's that simple."

Murphy has cited the state's distinction of having the highest population density in the nation — a factor that can encourage the spread of the virus — as a reason for waiting it out.

During his Wednesday news conference last week, however, a reporter noted that Connecticut's population and density are similar to New Jersey's.

"We're going to continue to open up incrementally," Murphy said. "And if we think there's an opportunity to be something, to do something bolder than incremental, we'll do it."

Murphy, however, said the numbers and reality "just don't suggest" that.

"And so you'll have to ask Governor Lamont in terms of his rationale on May 19th, but I know what our reality is here," he said. "The numbers have gotten somewhat better over the past week to 10 days. They're still not where we need them to be, but they are showing a trend that is beginning to build in the right direction."

Indeed, New Jersey's numbers have improved since that press conference, and on Sunday, the state revealed 1,516 new COVID cases — among the lowest numbers in six months.

Vaccinations also continue to progress in New Jersey. More than 2.7 million New Jerseyans are fully vaccinated, and more than 4 million of the state's 9 million people have gotten at least one dose.

New Jersey, however, continues to "struggle" with variants and death rates that are among the highest in the nation. Read more: NJ 'Struggling' In CDC COVID Hot Zone: Highest Death Rate In U.S.

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