NJ This Week: Expect More COVID Changes As June Arrives

NEW JERSEY – If you live in the Garden State, expect Friday, June 4th to be among New Jersey's "most aggressive opening plays" yet, in the words of Gov. Phil Murphy.

Effective June 4th, indoor gathering and capacity limits will be lifted, dance-floor restrictions will go away and workplace rules will be lifted.

Here’s where certain areas of life in New Jersey will open up:

Workplaces and child care

New Jersey employers will no longer be required to keep their offices staffed at a minimum level or accommodate remote work now that the state continues to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition, child care limits are being returned to their pre-pandemic levels immediately, giving parents who are being called back to office work a place for their children to go, Murphy said Wednesday during his coronavirus press conference.

The executive order relaxing workplace rules takes effect June 4.

Under the order, employers will be able to allow employees who can verify they are vaccinated to forgo masks in the office. The goal is to give private employers more flexibility as they return to more normal business operations, Murphy said.

State employees will continue to be required to mask up, Murphy said. Read more: NJ Changes Workplace, Child Care Rules Amid COVID

Dining, commercial and private gatherings

The indoor gathering limit for political gatherings, weddings, funerals, memorial services, performances, and other catered and commercial events, which is currently at 250 people, will be removed by June 4th. General indoor gathering capacities are currently capped at 50 people, set to be lifted entirely by June 4th.

Dance floors at bars and restaurants will also be reopened on June 4th. Dance floors reopened at private catered events (including weddings and school proms) with mask-wearing and social distancing in place earlier in May.

The restrictions on self-service food, such as buffets, at restaurants have been lifted since May 7, as well as the prohibition on indoor bar-side seating.

Entertainment, nightclubs and sports

Outdoor venues – including those that can accommodate over 1,000 people, such as MetLife Stadium and minor league baseball parks – reopened to full capacity starting this past Friday. The 30 percent capacity limit at indoor venues will be lifted starting Friday, June 4.

"So if the [New Jersey] Devils had a game on June 4, could they sell out? The answer is yes," Murphy said.

Those who are not fully vaccinated are strongly encouraged to follow CDC guidance and wear a face mask in any indoor public setting, Murphy said. He also clarified that, while businesses asking for proof of COVID-19 vaccinations are not in violation of HIPAA laws, the increased vaccination rates in the state have not swayed his previous concerns about potential vaccine passports required to access certain areas of life.

"I'm open-minded to them, but there are huge equity challenges that we're still dealing with," Murphy said. "We're making a good amount of progress, but we're not there yet. If you magically put a vaccine passport into place today, even if you wouldn't be intending to, you would be discriminating."

Nicole Rosenthal contributed to this story.