What Can Reopen This Week In Maplewood: Playgrounds, Malls

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy last week announced that playgrounds and amusement parks can reopen Thursday. Malls, including the Short Hills Mall, can open Monday (check the mall websites to be sure of hours and dates).

While states like Texas and Florida have had to re-close certain businesses and facilities in the last week due to record-topping coronavirus spikes — the governor of Texas ordered all bars to close there on Friday — the numbers are still declining in New Jersey, for now.

On Friday, Gov. Murphy announced 524 additional coronavirus cases and 44 more deaths in the previous 24 hours, bringing the totals statewide to 170,584 cases and 13,060 confirmed deaths.

The virus is clearly still spreading, but new cases have declined steadily since the state's most deadly day, April 30, when 460 New Jerseyans had been lost to the virus in 24 hours, or one person every three minutes.

Murphy has said that facilities and businesses in the state must reopen carefully, in phases, to prevent spikes like in other states that reopened earlier.

Local reopenings

Bob Zuckerman, who is president of Downtown New Jersey, said Friday, “We are thrilled to see our businesses opening up again. We handled COVID-19 the right way here in New Jersey by using data and science to drive our decision-making. While it’s been a rough few months for many of our businesses, we couldn’t be happier that most of them are getting back on their feet."

Maplewood Mayor Frank McGehee said in his update on June 23, "Outdoor dining is available, retail with reduced indoor capacity and on sidewalks/in public spaces are at your service, and personal care (hair, nail) facilities have opened. When dining, please do your part and be mindful of the public safety measures implemented and that each restaurant has agreed to with the township. Bring your facial covering with you."

Read more of the mayor's updates for specific local guidance.

Indoor dining originally was to be allowed to open at 25 percent capacity, but Gov. Phil Murphy walked back that allowance on Monday, saying crowded bar/restaurants were helping spread the virus. Thus, indoor dining is postponed.

Some restaurateurs in North Jersey said last week that they were not ready to open indoors just yet.

What about the malls?

The Short Hills Mall said it will open starting Monday, within guidelines.

Paramus Park Mall in Paramus said it will reopen Monday.

The Simon company has been posting updates on its mall websites, like this one for Newport Centre in Jersey City, about the stores at the mall reopening. Check the website for updates.

Some malls in New Jersey have said that children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

Updated Maplewood statistics

In his most recent newsletter on Tuesday, Mayor Frank McGehee gave the following updates on coronavirus cases in town:

• Total Cases: 313 (with 10 new between June 13 and June 23, ages 30 to 44 )
• Probable Cases: 9
• Total Deaths Overall: 26
• Total recovered cases: 251 (+13)

Other Maplewood coronavirus and reopening updates

To read about other recent coronavirus updates and reopening rules in Maplewood, click here.

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