More 'Major' COVID Reopening News Coming Monday, Gov. Murphy Says

NEW JERSEY - Gov Phil Murphy on Monday will make what he considers a "major" announcement on easing restrictions and ramping up vaccinations now that much of the state is already set to restart this week.

Patch will cover Murphy's announcement live at 1 p.m. on Monday. Read more: WATCH LIVE: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ Coronavirus, Reopenings Update

Murphy said the mass vaccinations and the falling metrics warrant more reopenings, even as "we're not out of the woods" in New Jersey.

The news of more restrictions being loosened comes as restrictions are easing:

Proms, graduations and gatherings

Indoor gathering capacities for the following are set to increase to 50 percent, with a maximum of 250 individuals, on May 10:

• Private catered events (including weddings and school proms)
• Political events
• Funerals
• Memorial services
• Performances

The outdoor gathering limit will increase on May 10 from 200 to 500.

Dance floors will also be allowed to open at private catered events (including weddings and school proms) with mask-wearing and social distancing in place, although those expansions do not include bars and nightclubs, Murphy said.

Dining

Restaurants and bars are currently operating at 50 percent capacity for indoor dining, excluding employees (there are no numeric capacity limitations on outdoor dining). Banquet halls can host private events at 35 percent of the room capacity or 150 persons. Bar seating is still prohibited.

While indoor dining is currently capped, there is no limit on the number of outdoor diners a restaurant can host.

Sports and Entertainment

Youth summer camps, including day and overnight programs, are permitted to continue this summer, Murphy said. Outdoor amusement businesses, including carnivals and fairs such as the New Jersey State Fair and Six Flags Great Adventure, will also be able to operate at 50 percent capacity beginning May 10.

Outdoor capacity for large venues (1,000 or more fixed seats) will also increase capacity limits to 50 percent with six feet of distancing between groups. The current limit is 30 percent capacity for venues with 2,500 fixed seats or more.

Travel

Domestic travel is allowed for fully vaccinated individuals, as is international travel, according to the CDC. In both cases, residents are not required to receive tests before and after travel. However, if you are only partially vaccinated, the CDC advises that you should not travel at all.

In the Garden State, fully vaccinated people no longer need to quarantine or test negative for domestic travel. Self-quarantines remain voluntary, but officials expect compliance.

Those who are fully vaccinated also don't need to get tested before departing unless their destination requires it, the CDC says. But they still need to show a negative test result or documentation of COVID-19 recovery before boarding an international flight to the United States.

Fully vaccinated people should still get tested 3-5 days after international travel but don't need to self-quarantine after entering the United States.

Just over three million people in New Jersey are fully vaccinated, while another million people have been partially vaccinated. The Garden State needs a total of 4.7 million fully vaccinated by the end of June to meet its goal of vaccinating 70 percent of adults in six months.

With reporting by Nicole Rosenthal, Josh Bakan and Tom Davis.

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