What You Can Do Amid COVID In NJ – And What's Next With Vaccines

NEW JERSEY - Now that more than 2 million vaccine doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been distributed in the state, several regulations around activities in New Jersey have shifted.

Citing increased vaccination efforts and data-based evidence that hospitalizations are decreasing, Gov. Phil Murphy has rolled back several coronavirus restrictions, and more could be on the way (see list of activities that have reopened since May, as well the new limits imposed, below).

Many more sites – particularly those at Rite Aid and CVS – are now available for vaccines, and New Jersey announced that Johnson & Johnson will provide more than 70,000 doses to New Jersey as early as this week. Read more: NJ Expands COVID Vaccine Call Center As CVS Adds Sites

Murphy has suggested that two major areas could be subjected to reopenings or expansion - indoor dining and sports - with more reopenings to be expected.

But he also spoke to the future of schools since some districts have stayed remote – even as hundreds have now shifted to a hybrid learning model or they're teaching fully in-person.

Here are some areas of New Jersey life that Murphy has recently opened up – or declared that they are hands-off, for now – and what may happen to them in the future:

Schools

Murphy said he expects schools to reopen – at the very least, in a hybrid model with both in-person and remote instruction – by the fall. Read more: Expect All NJ Schools To Reopen In Fall, Gov. Murphy Says

But can that happen earlier?

Some school districts have stayed remote, while others follow a hybrid model. Both models, however, remain controversial and inspired demands to reopen the schools now that vaccines are available. Read more: Maplewood Parents Ready To Rally As School Reopening On Hold

Facing scrutiny for not opening up immunizations to teachers – which has been encouraged as a way to get teachers back into the classrooms – the governor announced on Monday that vaccine availability will soon open up to educators, day care works and a number of other groups. Read more: More NJ COVID Vaccine Expansion: Clergy, Food Workers, Day Care

But can he order teachers back to school or should it remain a local decision? And will the state Department of Health update its guidelines to encourage buildings to open up?

During a recent news conference, Murphy said he realizes the situation is "incredibly stressful for everybody, for parents, kids, educators, administrators, period, full stop."

Murphy said he doesn't have an update on the guidelines, but he did note that more than three-quarters of instruction has some amount of in-person "and that number is continuing to go up."

Some of the bigger, older school districts that work out of antiquated buildings – with poor ventilation – are not in-person, Murphy acknowledged.

"My guess is (if) a combination of these numbers and realities continue to go in the right direction, a month or two from now – just to go out a little bit – you're in a completely different ballgame as it relates to school," he said

Murphy noted he was asked on CNN: Can you commit that if educators are vaccinated, that schools open?

"It is a very positive step, in fact, a data point to have at your disposal if you're able to vaccinate, and I hope we can vaccinate educators sooner than later," he said

Murphy said he doesn't blame anyone for their frustration and stress and "it's legitimate on all sides of this."

"And again, we slowly but surely continue to get into a better place," he said. "With what we're putting in the budget, we're not just saying the right words. We're putting serious money to work to address learning loss, mental health challenges, etc.

Indoor occupancy and dining

After declaring a 35 percent maximum occupancy for indoor dining earlier this month, Murphy declared the expansion of indoor dining will be coming "sooner than later" during a press conference on Feb. 25. When it comes, it will likely be 50 percent.

“My guess is the next move probably is from 35 percent to 50 percent. That would be my guess. I don't know when, but if the numbers keep getting better, it'll be sooner than later," he said.

Murphy has cited the big obstacle to reopening is several faster-spreading variants of the coronavirus present a threat, and at least one has been spreading in New Jersey. Read more: Gov. Murphy Says COVID Variant Slowing NJ's Reopening: Here's How

If not for concerns over the variant spreading, Murphy said increased indoor dining occupancy "would be even sooner and maybe even more significant."

Sports and entertainment

Earlier this month, Murphy announced that spectators will be allowed at high school sporting events. But, starting this past Monday, the world of college and professional sports can now see spectators once again.

And, starting this past Monday, any sports or entertainment venue with a capacity of 5,000 or more are now allowed to reopen and allow 10 percent capacity of fans indoors, and 15 percent capacity outdoors.

Arenas such as MetLife Stadium, the Prudential Center where the New Jersey Devils play, Seton Hall basketball, minor league and professional baseball stadiums, the Rutgers Athletic Center and any entertainment/sports complex in the state of New Jersey are included in the reopening.

College sports and New Jersey professional sporting teams have been playing this season without an audience. Murphy's announcement will now bring back eager spectators into the stands. Face masks will still be required, but New Jersey will not do what New York requires: a negative COVID PCR test before fans can enter an arena.

"This is the first step of many more to come in the coming months," Murphy said. "I'll be shocked if we're not at a higher level of capacity for Jets, Giants, Rutgers football, you name it, as we get into the summer and fall. God knows we need it ... for those of us who love watching sports, (it's) an outlet. But I'm confident we'll be at higher numbers assuming we don't go back on this pandemic."

Murphy also has expanded the ability for parents to watch their children play indoor sports at the college level, which became effective Feb. 22.

The governor said he couldn't point to any data point that made him do the reopening, but he said he looked at hospitalizations, number of cases and the rate of transmission, all of which have been trending downwards.

Vaccines

Eligible New Jersey residents are now able to register to get vaccinated against COVID-19 (see here for who's currently eligible).

The state's vaccine hub website now has listed a number of stores in towns in New Jersey and asked people to sign up here: https://www.riteaid.com/pharma…

The governor recently expressed hopes that expanding immunizations, including a one-shot vaccine from Johnson & Johnson that may arrive in New Jersey as soon as next week, could be a "game-changer" for state residents.

President Biden was also expected to announce on Tuesday that Merch will help distrubte the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Read more: NJ Expects Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine Doses By Next Week

"They've already indicated that they've got some amount of supply ready to go," he said. "That's a great place where you could envision the J&J vaccine making a difference."

Murphy also said there is mounting evidence that the vaccines are good against the variants.
"In addition to the fact our numbers continue to go in the right direction, there's no question we're going to open up," he said. "Just a question of when and how much.

"And again, the last thing I want to do – I think I speak for all of us – is to lurch open and then have to pull back, which is hell to pay on the businesses, on the customers and everybody associated with it," he said.

Here is what has opened since May, and remains available to the public:

• Fishing charters and watercraft rentals reopened at 6 a.m. on May 17th
• 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
• In-person automobile and motorcycle sales were allowed to return on May 20th
• Beaches were allowed to reopen on May 22nd
• Batting cages and golf ranges, with foursomes – not just pairings – were allowed to tee-off on May 22nd
• Shooting and archery ranges, horseback riding and private tennis clubs and community gardens were allowed to resume on May 22nd
• Elective and invasive surgeries were allowed to resume on May 26th
• Open houses to view real estate, with attendees wearing face coverings, resumed on June 14th
• Car washes were allowed to resume on June 14th
• Yard and garage sales were allowed to resume on June 14th
• Fireworks displays at public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes and lakeshores were allowed to resume on June 14th
• Outdoor dining reopened on June 15th
• Child care centers reopened on June 15th
• MVC driver services resumed on June 15th
• Municipal and private-club swimming pools reopened on June 22nd
• Non-contact organized sports activities restarted on June 22nd
• Beauty salons reopened on June 22nd
• Barber shops reopened on June 22nd
• Cosmetology shops reopened on June 22nd
• Day and medical spas (not steam rooms, saunas or shared bathing facilities) reopened on June 22nd
• Electrology facilities reopened on June 22nd
• Hair braiding shops reopened on June 22nd
• Massage parlors reopened on June 22nd
• Nail salons reopened on June 22nd
• Tanning salons reopened on June 22nd
• Tattoo parlors reopened on June 22nd
• Golf and tennis resumed competitions on June 22nd
• Baseball, softball, soccer and outdoor basketball resumed on June 22nd, but they are limited to non-contact drills and practices.
• Non-contact football drills resumed on June 22nd
• Inspections and road tests resumed on June 29th
• Indoor malls reopened on June 29th
• In-person clinical labs and hands-on programming at colleges were allowed to resume on July 1
• Career and training schools reopened on July 1st
• Gymnastic centers reopened on July 2nd
• Dance studios reopened on July 2nd
• Playgrounds reopened on July 2nd
• Amusement parks reopened on July 2nd
• Water parks reopened on July 2nd.
• Casinos reopened on July 2nd.
• Racetracks reopened for in-person bets on July 2nd
• Museums reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Aquariums reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Bowling alleys reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Shooting ranges reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Arcades reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Libraries reopened on July 2nd
• Gym and fitness centers opened only for individualized training, and by appointment, involving one person and/or your family on July 2nd
• Indoor pools reopened on July 3rd
• Youth summer camps and programs reopened on July 6th
• In-person graduations were allowed to begin on July 6th
• Baseball, softball, soccer and outdoor basketball competitions were allowed to resume on July 6th
• NJ Transit returned to full weekday service on July 6th
• MVC driver in-person driver services, including driver's license renewals, resumed on July 7th
• NJ Transit's 50-percent capacity limit was lifted on July 15th.
• Full football practices and competitions resumed on July 20th.
• Yoga and martial arts studios were allowed to resume on July 22nd.
• Gyms and indoor amusements reopened on Sept. 1.
• Indoor dining resumed on Sept. 4
• Movie theaters resumed on Sept. 4

With reporting by Karen Wall, Carly Baldwin and Montana Samuels.