Summit Responds As New NJ Indoor Dining Rules Start

SUMMIT, NJ — Officials and restaurateurs in New Jersey had mixed feelings this week when New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced new rules for indoor dining amid a statewide rise in coronavirus.

Starting Thursday:

• Restaurants in New Jersey cannot offer indoor dining after 10 p.m. However, they can continue to serve outdoors until their regular closing time, and takeout and delivery can also continue after 10 p.m.
• People can no longer be seated at a bar, in order to maintain social distancing.
• Outdoor tables can be placed closer than 6 feet — but only if there are plexiglass barriers separating tables
• The rules are part of the new Executive Order 194.

On Monday, Murphy gave updated statistics.

Right now, restaurants can only maintain 25 percent capacity indoors as it is.

In Summit, a city spokeswoman said that as far as a reaction from local businesses, "The most significant change and the one that our restaurants are finding the most restrictive is the no bar seating. It will definitely impact several of our restaurants."

A restaurant manager agreed. Kendra Mohan, the district manager of the 40North Restaurants, Villa Restaurant Group, oversees Summit Office Tavern Grill and Piattino, both on Union Place.

"We have many regulars that enjoy sitting at the bar with the bar stools set 6 feet apart but still able to engage in conversation with other guests or our employees," she said. "Our guests feel comfortable with us that we are very diligent in our efforts of following all the guidelines from the Executive Order of wearing masks and gloves, keeping our tables 6 feet apart and disinfecting and sanitizing all surfaces constantly."

She noted, "It hurts our employees' pockets and now they will have to work more hours to make up the money they will be losing tending bar." She also said that serving indoors after 10 p.m. helped to "continue to recoup on the loss in sales we have encountered this year."

But they will still be open Sunday through Wednesday from noon to 9 p.m., and Thursday through Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.

They are also offering take-out packages to serve small gatherings for Thanksgiving this year.

(If you're a business owner or manager who wants to comment on these issues in the future, post below or email caren.lissner@patch.com.)

Another group announces temporary closure

Meanwhile, another restaurant group has temporarily closed two establishments in Summit, the Roots Steakhouse in Summit and the Huntley Taverne, because at least one employee has tested positive for the virus, according to a report. A Summit spokesperson confirmed on Thursday, "The Westfield Regional Health Department is investigating close contacts of infected employees identified by Harvest Restaurant Group."

Statistics

On Wednesday, the city said that there were six new cases of the virus confirmed among residents since the day before, bringing the total since March to 342.

So far, there have been 24 confirmed cases in Summit in November. This is a big difference from August, when the city had fewer than 10 cases in a month.

In New Jersey, 18 Summit residents have died from the virus, the most recent a 102-year-old woman earlier this month.

At the height of the crisis in New Jersey, 460 people died from the virus in 24 hours on April 30. READ MORE: 'I Cannot Get Air': When Local Woman Begged For Coronavirus Test

Additional information is available at https://www.cityofsummit.org/660/COVID-19.

Approximately 22,000 people live in the city.

More than 235,000 Americans and 14,500 people in New Jersey have died from the virus so far.

Here are some other Summit coronavirus statistics and testing information:

SCHOOLS

• Summit High School last week said it would go remote for 14 days.
• Schools in Summit reopened in early September with a hybrid plan.
• For past school reopening updates, click this story.

HOW TO GET TESTED

• Union County has added mobile walk-up test sites in addition to the drive-through testing site located at Kean University. Testing is free for Union County residents and is by appointment only with no car required; participants must wear masks and observe social distance. Any Union County resident can make an appointment for a test, whether they have symptoms. To pick a location, date and time, and to make an appointment online, visit ucnj.org/coronavirus-update/walk-up.
• Union County residents who need to make an appointment by phone can call 908-518-4307 for assistance. Non-profit organizations and other community groups can call the Union County Office of Emergency Management at 908-654-9881 to request a visit from the Mobile Test Unit.

• To find out more, you can also contact your doctor, visit covid19.nj.gov/testing, or call 211.

HOW TO GET HELP WITH HEAT, RENT, AND MORE

• During the State of Emergency in New Jersey, no tenant is permitted to be evicted from their home or apartment for the inability to pay rent. Talk to your local mayor's office if you are experiencing difficulties.
• The CARES act has made money available to help with rent in each city. More information is here.
• New Jersey residents can get help with heating and energy bills. Information is here.
• Various other avenues of relief and benefits have also been made available, including family leave for 12 weeks if you can't work due to your child's school or camp being closed, and changes to unemployment rules to help those who were at a job for a short time, or freelancing.
• Programs are being added constantly, so don't think you can't get help. Reach out to your local mayor's office to find out what kind of funds may be available to help you get through this time.

LONG-TERM CARE

• Recently, there were 159 long term care facilities with active outbreaks, the state Department of Health said this month. The state also announced that deaths at the facilities had more than doubled since May 1. The state has stopped updating the numbers at facilities without current outbreaks.
• New Jersey residents were already alarmed at the high number of residents who have passed away in nursing homes, rehabs, and similar facilities. The state announced plans in May to increase testing at some long term care facilities and to bring in the National Guard temporarily to help make changes.
• The state released death toll statistics late in spring for long-term care facilities like rehabs and nursing homes. See the list here.
• You can report problems with long term care facilities here, or if you suspect coronavirus related misconduct, here.
• Some New Jersey long-term care facilities reopened for limited visits, with precautions, in July.

Here are statewide coronavirus resources:

• NJ COVID-19 Information Hub: https://covid19.nj.gov/
• General COVID-19 questions: 2-1-1
• NJ COVID-19 hotline: (800) 222-1222

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