Newark Puts Several Neighborhoods Under Coronavirus Curfews

NEWARK, NJ — Newark has tightened up its coronavirus restrictions, and there will be some big changes to everyday life for many its residents until at least December, officials in New Jersey’s largest city announced Tuesday.

With COVID-19 “still on the rise” in Newark, the city will be extending its mandatory evening curfew to include several residential neighborhoods (see the list below). Other temporary crackdowns will affect sports, large gatherings, visitation in senior housing, religious services and local businesses, officials said.

Newark’s latest wave of restrictions comes as New Jersey on Tuesday announced its highest daily case total since April – 3,877 – and the state's highest death toll since July: 21. READ MORE: Gov. Murphy Says NJ COVID-19 Numbers Going 'In Wrong Direction'

Newark has been hit particularly hard, Mayor Ras Baraka said. As of Tuesday, the city has seen 12,779 positive COVID-19 cases and 677 deaths since the pandemic began.

“Newark’s test positivity rate is at 19 percent, while New Jersey’s is at 7.74 percent – more than double,” Baraka said. “Stricter measures are required in the city’s hotspots in order to contain the virus and limit the spread.”

“I know we’re all tired, but the virus is not, therefore we must remain vigilant and do what is necessary to get this under control and save lives,” the mayor added.

City administrators will re-assess the situation after Tuesday, Dec. 1, to determine the next steps, officials said.

Here’s how the latest round of restrictions will affect life in Newark.

RESIDENTIAL CURFEWS

For now, residents who live in some parts of Newark – but not all – will be expected to stay off the streets after 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends. The curfew will be “strictly enforced,” but there will be exceptions for people traveling to or from work or if there is an emergency, officials said.

The residential curfew will only apply to certain areas of the city:

• In 07104, the boundaries are 7th Avenue to 2nd Avenue and from Broadway to Clifton Avenue
• In 07105, this is the entire area, not including the airport or the highways
• In 07107, the boundaries are 3rd Avenue North to Berkley Avenue. North 3rd Street to 11th Street

Here’s why those zip codes were chosen, officials said:

“Based on testing information for Newark from October 25 to October 31, which counts each test, the city’s positivity rate is 16.3% and the highest rate continues to be in the East Ward (32.5% in zip code 07105), as well as in the North Ward (18.1% in zip code 07104 and 15.4% in Zip Code 07107).”

INDOOR/OUTDOOR GATHERINGS

• Gatherings and/or events are limited to no more than 10 people.

SENIOR HOUSING

• No visitation is allowed at long term health care facilities for the next two weeks.
• Senior housing buildings residents are allowed one, non-essential visitor per unit per day.
• All building managers/security must perform temperature checks of all individuals prior to entering the building. No one with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees will be allowed inside.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

• Attendance is restricted to 25% capacity.
• Anyone speaking or singing during religious services must wear a mask (including pastors while preaching).
• No one with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees will be allowed inside.

RESTAURANTS/BUSINESSES/OFFICES

• As per the mayor's previous executive order, all non-essential businesses must close at 8 p.m. every day. All restaurants, bars, etc. must close their indoor service at 8 p.m. and outdoor service at 11 p.m.
• Restaurants, businesses, and offices must follow face mask protocols.
• All businesses must perform temperature checks of anyone entering the building and no one with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees will be allowed inside.
• No holiday (i.e. Thanksgiving) gatherings or events of 10 people or more at restaurants.
• Reservations for more than 10 people are not allowed.

SPORTS

All sports of any kind being played in the city must stop immediately for a two-week period. During this time, all players, coaches, trainers and other staff must be tested for the COVID-19 virus and have to test negative to resume play.

When sports resume after the two-week period, all players, coaches, trainers and staff must be tested for the COVID-19 virus every week, city officials said.

Other restrictions include:

• People not actively playing in the game must wear a face mask and practice social distancing (including coaches, players on the bench, referees, parents, staff and spectators).
• The city will consider canceling, rescheduling games, and/or practices or any other activity for two weeks if two or more players/employees/staff on the team test positive for the virus.
• Any team or team member that doesn’t follow the face mask protocol may be subject to having their remaining games canceled, removed from the team or terminated.

“The most potent immunization we have available is a decision to take personal responsibility to obey and model the recommendations that keep us all safe,” said Mark Wade, director of the Department of Health and Community Wellness for the City of Newark.

“We need each other to get us through this and to save lives,” Wade said.

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