Atlantic County Pushes For Openings In Coronavirus Plan

ATLANTIC COUNTY, NJ — Atlantic County officials submitted a proposal Friday for reopening areas and businesses affected by coronavirus closures. The plan addresses openings, with restrictions, to establishments such as casinos, retail stores and dine-in restaurants.

The proposal to state officials calls for immediate relaxation of closures that have affected small businesses.

"Rules that designated some places of business as essential have greatly benefited large national chain stores at the expense of small local businesses," says the proposal, submitted by County Executive Dennis Levinson and Freeholder Chairman Frank D. Mormica.

Read the County's recommendations here.

Here are some other aspects of the proposal:

• Retail reopenings would include personal-care businesses such as salons and barber shops. Governor Phil Murphy ordered their closure March 19 because their businesses cannot comply with social-distancing guidelines, he said.
• Retail establishments would still need to follow restrictions such as limiting the number of customers in their stores and facilitating social distancing and employee-safety protocols.
• The County would like bars, breweries and restaurants to reopen while following best practices from the Center for Disease Control, including implementing outdoor dining. "Municipal cooperation will be essential to any opening plan and opening plans should be locally determined," the plan says.
• Officials proposed leaving decisions on reopening casinos to the Division of Gaming Enforcement and property owners. The County estimates that 25,000 casino employees are out of work.
• Hotels, motels and the lodging industry would follow certain requirements regarding occupancy, sanitary procedures and employee protections.
• Boardwalks and beaches remain up to each town's discretion. But officials believe local governments should determine how and when businesses along boardwalks should reopen. The County also said some towns may need to add extra staff to beaches to enforce social distancing, and they may require inter-local agreements.

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"We submit these recommendations with the intention they help hasten and guide their (federal and state officials') decision-making," the proposal says. "We also assure them of our local cooperation in balancing the health and safety of our citizens with their economic needs.

Atlantic County reported 15 new cases and three deaths Monday. A 93-year-old and 91-year-old from Pleasantville and a 97-year-old from Northfield died from the virus.

The County has reported 1,530 cases, 77 deaths and 351 residents cleared as recovered as of Monday. Atlantic County has tested 1,053 residents to date with a 25.9% rate of positivity.

Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

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