NJ Lifts More Outdoor Gathering, Entertainment Venue Restrictions

NEW JERSEY - Those wanting to gather outdoors and enjoy the spring weather in New Jersey will have more flexibility as Gov. Phil Murphy is increasing the general outdoor gathering limit to 200 individuals, effective 6 a.m. Friday.

The previous limit was 50, a measure made to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Religious services, weddings, funerals, memorial services and political activities remain uncapped in outdoor settings, Murphy said in his Monday COVID-19 briefing. The general indoor gathering limit will remain at 25 people.

NEW: I’m raising the limit on general outdoor gatherings.

Effective Friday, April 2nd at 6:00 AM:
General outdoor gathering limit increases to 200 people
General indoor gathering limit will remain at 25 people pic.twitter.com/3vfiSU1hHt
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 29, 2021

The latest executive order will clarify that banquet halls can host private events at 35 percent of the room capacity or 150 persons. The previous outdoor gathering limit was increased from 25 to 50 people earlier this month. Read more: NJ Lifts More COVID-19 Restrictions: What You Can, Can't Do

“The reason we are increasing the outdoor limit is that as the weather gets warmer, we are urging everyone to engage in social activities outside whenever possible," Murphy said. "We know this virus is many times more transmissible indoors … than it is outdoors. Any type of larger gathering is safer for everyone if it can be held outside.”

Also effective April 2, the threshold for entertainment venues to be considered a “large venue” will be lowered from 5,000 to 2,500. At those large venues, the capacity for indoor seating will be increased from 10 percent to 20 percent for indoor venues and from 15 percent to 30 percent for outdoor venues. All public health protocols will still be mandatory, including face mask wearing.

“If it’s a 5,000 seat capacity, they’re now able to get 1,000 people into those seats,” the governor said. “Based on discussions with our large venues we know that at 20 percent capacity, our venues can still ensure that all groups remain 6 feet apart in all directions. This means we can safely take this step and welcome more fans into our arenas.”

This is a developing story. Patch will have more information as it comes in.

Restaurants, cafeterias, food courts, recreation facilities, amusement centers, personal care services (barber shops, nail salons, and other personal care businesses) and entertainment businesses (including casinos, movie theaters and gyms) are currently operating at 50 percent capacity, excluding employees.

Seating will still not be allowed in bars, Murphy has said.

For entertainment centers where performances are given such as movie theaters, performing arts centers, and other concert venues that are not considered "large venues", the indoor limit is capped at 35 percent of the maximum capacity. The limit must never be larger than 150 people, excluding the entertainment center's staff.

"Indoor dining and gyms and indoor entertainment are still at 50 percent [capacity] and I suspect they'll stay there," Murphy continued. "We did raise it on large venues because those venues are proving explicitly, I'll give the Prudential Center a shoutout, where a lot of this is taking place, if you look at indoor large venues in the state right now. They're doing an exceptional job. Going to 20 percent does not anywhere come close to people needing to be within six feet of each other."

The governor’s remarks come amid an additional 3,834 positive new cases, with 2,255 patients in hospitals, 491 in the ICU and 240 ventilators in use. 16 COVID-19 related deaths have been confirmed in the past 24 hours.

The state’s positivity rate is currently at 9.4 percent and the statewide rate of transition remains at 1.1. Murphy reports that the total 900,273 cases New Jersey has seen since the pandemic began one year ago now means that 10 percent of the state population has likely been positive for COVID-19 at some point.

“I’m betting that number is at least double that,” Murphy said. “Folks had it early on before we had the testing capabilities that we have, but it’s still a stark reminder.”

NEW JERSEY #COVID19 NUMBERS:⁰3,174 new positive PCR tests⁰792,616 total PCR tests⁰660 new positive antigen tests⁰107,657 total antigen tests pic.twitter.com/jjmxc8qTPT
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) March 29, 2021