Gov. Murphy: More NJ Reopenings Coming As Key COVID Metric Drops

NEW JERSEY — More news about what Gov. Phil Murphy called an "accelerated reopening of the state" amid the coronavirus pandemic may come as soon as Monday as some key metrics surrounding the coronavirus continue to improve in New Jersey.

The statement comes as Murphy announced he was signing an executive order permitting summer camps to open in 2021, based on new guidance released by the New Jersey Department of Health on Wednesday. New guidance includes daily masking and health screenings.

“These screenings are especially important for kids at overnight camps,” Murphy said. “The guidance includes many of the protocols that allowed our day camps to operate last summer.”

Speaking during a news conference on Wednesday, Murphy also said his administration would talk on Monday about the proactive steps the state is taking to get everyone in New Jersey vaccinated and reach their goal of having 4.7 million residents vaccinated by the end of June.

"You're going to see us accelerating the opening up of the state," Murphy said. "There's no other way to put it."

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The actions come after Murphy said he expects New Jersey to adopt the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new outdoor mask guidance about wearing masks outside.

Murphy was referring to the CDC saying on Tuesday that fully vaccinated people — defined as those who are two weeks beyond getting the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine —can gather together in small groups outside, or with people from multiple households. Read more: 'Expect' NJ To Follow New CDC COVID Mask Guidance: Gov. Murphy

Murphy also announced on Monday an increase on indoor gathering limits to 50 percent, with a maximum capacity of 250 people. Read more here: NJ Eases COVID-19 Rules For Proms, Graduations, Other Activities

Murphy said he's taking these actions as the statewide rate of transmission dropped to 0.80 and the positivity rate for Saturday was 8.99 percent, dropping below double-digits for a weekend or holiday for the first time in months, Murphy said. It comes at the end of a week in which the positivity rate was 7 percent.

As for summer camps, cohorting will be encouraged again this year. Campers and staff who are not yet vaccinated must get tested for the coronavirus within 72 hours before camp begins and within the first 3 to 6 days of their session, New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said. Campers will also have to quarantine before arriving at camp.

"The use of facemasks, cohorting, distancing of 6 feet, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting were successful in mitigating the transmission of the virus at these camps last summer," Persichilli said. "No outbreaks were reported last season, so we're looking forward to another summer where children can safely enjoy their camps."

Other guidelines include:

• All camps will be required to train staff on control of transmission of the disease, as well as hand-washing, use of personal protective equipment (PPE);
• They must be trained at recognizing symptoms of the coronavirus, Persichilli said.
• Healthy hygiene practices should be taught to all campers and staff;
• A policy for daily screening of campers, staff and visitors should be developed;
• Outdoor activities are strongly encouraged, but masks should be worn when social distancing of 6 feet is not possible;
• Heating and air conditioning units should be inspected and routinely serviced;
• Camps should stagger arrivals and drop-off locations by cohort to limit contact;
• Meal times should be staggered to ensure that cohorts remain intact;
• Social distancing must be maintained on bus trips;
• Cleaning and disinfecting should be done regularly, and shared objects should be cleaned between uses;
• Staff and campers must wear face masks at all times during indoor activities, and camps must supply both staff and campers with face masks;
• Campers won't need to wear a mask when in their bunk or their assigned cohort;
• Bunks should be arranged head-to-toe, and at least 6 feet apart; and
• Camps must have a policy that includes immediate isolation and reporting to local health officials when someone tests positive for the coronavirus.

“The department has been in direct contact with our camp operators, who are ready and willing to comply with this requirement,” Murphy said.

The guidance also allows for day trips and other off-camp activities, Murphy said. He compared the list of requirements to those set forth by New York, saying there was a lot of commonality between the neighboring states. Full guidance can be found on the New Jersey Department of Health's website.

“We are all committed to a safe and fun summer for our kids,” Murphy said. “We are pleased that our health metrics are allowing our summer camps to plan for the season ahead, and we hope everyone can make the most of the summer and take away some great Jersey summer memories.”

In addition to summer camps, the plummeting numbers are paying dividends in other areas, including schools, where just shy of 9 percent of students remain in an all-remote learning environment, Murphy said.

“In schools, for example, only 25 schools or districts statewide remain in an all-remote posture,” Murphy said. “This impacts roughly 115,000 students.”

Eight of these districts are public schools, while the rest are charter schools, Murphy said.