2 Morristown Restaurants: Please Wear Mask Until Seated For Now

MORRISTOWN, NJ — State officials began slowly reducing coronavirus restrictions, and that could mean good things for restaurants and bars. But two South Street establishments said they need patrons to keep following a certain protocol.

Stirling Tavern and The Office Tavern Grill put separate but similar messages on social media, reminding patrons to keep wearing their masks until seated.

"While we are excited about the news from the CDC, the state of New Jersey has not yet lifted its mask mandate," Stirling Tavern wrote. "We will continue to require guests to wear a mask anytime they are not seated. If you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@stirlingtavern.com."

The Office Tavern Grill wrote the following on its Facebook page: "We are excited that restrictions are loosening up. However, until the CDC updates mask requirements in restaurants, we ask that you continue to wear a mask when entering our location. Thank you for your support and patronage!"

New Jersey will lift many of its indoor-capacity restrictions Wednesday, which will also mean removing the 50 percent cap for indoor dining. The state will still require 6 feet between groups in indoor, public spaces, such as restaurants.

The Centers for Disease Control updated its guidance Thursday for people fully vaccinated: "Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance."

New Jersey lifted its outdoor mask mandate Monday but will temporarily maintain its masking rules for indoor, public spaces.

Citing the fact that New Jersey recently had some of the nation's highest infection, hospitalization and death rates, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday, "we're not there yet" on removing the indoor mask mandate.

But Murphy announced he will allow the state's COVID-19 state of emergency to expire in a month, unless the state enacts legislation to extend it. Murphy declared a public-health emergency March 9, 2020, and has renewed each month since.

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