Middletown Mayor: Curfew Began Because 'This Isn't Spring Break'

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown Mayor Tony Perry told Patch Tuesday that the town implemented an 8 p.m. curfew this week because he was getting increasing reports that teens were hanging out socially, in groups, and doing things like playing pick-up basketball and going to parties during the coronavirus recommended quarantine.

"This time cannot be considered spring break," said Mayor Perry. "I was getting text messages, Facebook messages and phone calls from residents saying it's fine that schools are closed, but kids are still hanging out in groups."

Middletown's curfew started Monday and prevents anyone from being out after 8 p.m. This came the same day the state of New Jersey urged — also on Monday — for everyone to be in their homes from 8 p.m. - 5 a.m.

The state also ordered non-essential businesses to close after 8 p.m. on Monday and to remain closed for the foreseeable future. Restaurants can now only serve take-out and the state also closed movie theaters, gyms and casinos. State government is also telling people to avoid gatherings of 50 or more people.

"We got requests from parents who are trying their hardest to drive home the safety aspects of social distancing," said Perry. "We set this curfew to drive the message to keep distance from others. It was time to issue a curfew to drive home the imperative of social distancing and telling teens to take this as seriously as they should."

The last time Middletown had an 8 p.m. curfew in place was during hurricanes Sandy and Irene.