Gov. Murphy's Rules For Resuming NJ Sports, Fireworks, Activities

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking during a Monday news conference, issued a set of rules for organized sports to restart and also announced that more activities – such as fireworks – can resume. He made the announcement as he announced 274 new coronavirus cases and 52 more deaths (you can watch it here, below).

The update comes as the number of cases rose to 167,103 and 12,676 people have died. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

New Jersey also entered "stage two" of its reopening on Monday, with a number of businesses restarting. Read more: NJ's Big Reopen Day: Here's What You Can Do In Coronavirus Crisis

Here is what Murphy announced about high school and youth sports:

• Golf and tennis can resume competitions on Monday, June 22
• Baseball, softball, soccer and outdoor basketball can resume, but they will be limited to non-contact drills and practices only beginning on June 22. Competition can resume on July 6th.
• Non-contact football drills can resume on June 22 and full practices and competitions should be able to resume by July 20th.
• Screenings will be conducted for players, coaches and staffs
• Equipment sharing will be limited.
• Strong requirements for sanitization and disinfection will be imposed.
• All gatherings must abide by requirements for outdoor gatherings. Read more: New NJ Coronavirus Rules: Here's What Can Be Done Inside, Outside
• Signs and tape should be used to assist with imposing social distancing requirements.
• Staff, parents and visitors must wear face coverings at practices and games.
• Players should - but are not required to – wear face coverings during downtime, but they should not wear them while they're involved in physical activity.
• Athletes and staff must get a temperature check and bring their own water bottles.
• Larger teams should be divided into smaller groups during drills and practices, and practices should be staggered.

"Sports is an ingrained part of so many of our communities and our lives and our families," Murphy said. "We want everybody to be healthy and get out and play. But most importantly, we want everybody to be safe."

The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said the governor’s announcement regarding youth and recreation sports "is another positive step in our collective effort to return to play."

"It’s important to note however, that while these particular guidelines are instructive, they don’t directly apply to high school athletics. Any scholastic sports program is part of the overall curriculum, and so must be appropriately in sync with all other facets of the school," the organization said. "High school athletics cannot function independently from schools – which, of course, are currently focused on the safe return of more 1.3 million students, including 283,000 high school student-athletes. In short, scholastic sports present far more pressing and complex considerations than do youth and recreation-level programs."

As previously announced, NJSIAA anticipates having guidelines for high school sports by June 19, with summer workouts starting on or around July 13.

"NJSIAA strongly believes that with summer workouts starting in July, student athletes will have more than enough time to prepare for the fall season,” the organization said.

Murphy also clarified what activities and businesses can restart now that he reopened much of the Garden State on Monday.

Murphy issued an order that said, beginning on Monday, special events such as fireworks displays at public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes and lakeshores are now permitted.

Murphy and Col. Patrick Callahan, the superintendent of the State Police, also permitted libraries to allow curbside pickups, and garage sales, restaurant tours for event-planning and car washes can also resume.

“Libraries are an important resource in normal times, but are even more critical now as many New Jerseyans utilize the numerous and often free resources that they have to offer,” said Murphy. “Reopening our libraries for curbside pickup will ensure that families in our state can continue to have access to literature, arts, and so much more that these institutions provide.”

Under the order, these activities and businesses can resume:

• Libraries are permitted to offer curbside pickup and can reopen their outdoor spaces to the public, but patrons shall not be permitted to enter the brick-and-mortar premises;
• Restaurants and indoor recreational and entertainment businesses are permitted to allow people to tour their facilities for event-planning purposes, but such individuals must wear face coverings at all times and the facility may not provide food or drink tastings or samplings;
• Students who may be accompanied by parents or guardians may enter school premises to retrieve personal belongings from lockers, classrooms, or other areas;
• Open houses to view real estate are permitted, provided they comply with the restrictions on indoor gatherings, including the requirement that attendees wear face coverings;
• Bicycle shops, boat dealerships, car and used car dealerships, farming equipment stores, federal firearms licensees, livestock feed stores, mobile phone retail and repair shops, motorcycle dealerships and nurseries and garden centers can operate according to the requirements placed on essential retail businesses;
• All car washes can operate according to the requirements placed on essential retail businesses;
• Yard and garage sales are permitted subject to the requirements on indoor gatherings, but municipalities shall have the discretion to impose additional restrictions on these sales;
• Special events, including fireworks displays, at public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes, and lakeshores are permitted, subject to the restrictions on outdoor gatherings; and
• Shared space tutoring service facilities remain closed to students and clients.

Watch Murphy here:

New Jersey Coronavirus Updates: Don't miss local and statewide announcements about novel coronavirus precautions. Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters.