NJ Issues Updated Business Rules That Loosen COVID Restrictions

NEW JERSEY - As New Jersey reaches 1.28 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered and accepts the recent shipment of 70,000 initial doses from Johnson & Johnson earlier this month, the Murphy administration has dialed back several restrictions around certain activities in the state.

But it's not just indoor dining that will benefit from the loosening COVID restrictions of New Jersey. A long list of businesses will expand, too, and the Murphy administration has now issued a set of guidelines for them to follow.

Amid increased statewide vaccination efforts, an expansion of vaccine eligibility and data-based hospitalization evidence, Gov. Phil Murphy has provided specific guidelines for increased capacity limits in several areas, including those related to indoor dining, movie theaters, barbers and hair salons and other businesses as well as indoor and outdoor gatherings.

“We believe we can confidently take these steps as our COVID-19 metrics continue to trend in the right direction,” Murphy said. “However, our mask mandate and COVID-19 health and safety protocols remain in effect. I am hopeful that we’ll be able to take further steps in expanding capacity responsibly and incrementally guided by public health data.”

Read more: Where To Get The Coronavirus Vaccine In New Jersey

Starting Friday, March 19 at 6 a.m., restaurants, cafeterias and food courts can increase indoor capacity limits from 35 to 50 percent, excluding employees. The changes also include indoor 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).

Seating will still not be allowed in bars, Murphy said at a March 11 news conference announcing the restriction change. Read more: NJ Bars, Restaurants, Others To Expand To 50 Percent Amid COVID

In addition, the indoor gathering limit will increase from 10 people to 25 people (indoor gatherings that currently have a higher limit such as religious services or ceremonies, political events, weddings, funerals, memorial services, or performances – will remain unchanged). The general outdoor gathering limit will increase from 25 people to 50 people.

“50 percent capacity is a limit that will continue to restrict the congregation of large numbers of individuals in indoor settings,” Murphy’s latest executive order reads.

However, certain outdoor events, religious services or ceremonies, political events, weddings, funerals or memorial services, can be treated “differently from casual social gatherings … which occur on a more frequent basis and typically do not present the same compelling need,” the executive order continues.

Addiction group counseling services will also be able to exceed the general gathering limit while following health and safety protocols.

The increases are aligned with increases in capacity in Connecticut and New York.

"We feel confident in the steps announced today given the data we've been seeing over the past five weeks. On Feb. 5, when our restaurant capacity last changed, our hospitals were treating nearly 2,900 patients. That number has come down by 1,000 and been consistent since then," Murphy tweeted.

Here are the rules these businesses, schools and venues must follow:

• The current 35 percent capacity limit on the indoor gatherings limit can safely be raised to 50 percent as long as face-covering and social-distancing requirements are strictly observed.
• The number of people at indoor gatherings that are not religious services or celebrations, political activities, wedding ceremonies, funerals or memorial services must be limited to 25 people.
• The number of people at indoor gatherings that are political activities, wedding ceremonies, funerals, or memorial services must be limited to 35 percent of the capacity of the room. The limit must never be larger than 150 people, excluding staff of the gathering venue.
• The number of people at indoor gatherings that are religious services or celebrations, including wedding ceremonies, funerals, and memorial services that involve religious services must be limited to 50 percent of the capacity of the room, excluding staff of the gathering venue.
• The number of people at an indoor gathering that involves an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Narcotics Anonymous meeting, or similar meeting of an addiction support group must be limited to 35 percent of the capacity of the room. The nubmer must not be larger than 150 people.
• The number of people at a wedding reception must be limited to 35 percent of the capacity of the room in which it takes place. The limit must never be larger than 150 people, excluding the reception venue’s staff.
• Entertainment centers where performances are viewed or given, including movie theaters, performing arts centers, and other concert venues, must limit the number of patrons in any indoor room to 35 percent of the maximum capacity. The limit must never be larger than 150 people, excluding the entertainment center’s staff.
• Outdoor entertainment centers where performances are viewed or given, including movie theaters, performing arts centers, and other concert venues, must continue to limit the number that ensures that people remain six feet apart. But the number must never be larger than 150 people.
• Restaurants, cafeterias and dining establishments, including private, non-profit clubs, and food courts with or without a liquor license, bars, must limit the number of patrons in indoor areas to 50 percent of the food and beverage establishment’s indoor capacity, excluding the food or beverage establishment’s employees.
• “Health clubs,” which include gyms and fitness centers, as well as amusement and water parks, must limit occupancy of any indoor premises to 50 percent of capacity at one time, excluding the facility’s employees.
• Casinos that have opened their indoor premises to the public must limit occupancy of any indoor premises to 50 percent of capacity at one time, excluding the facility’s employees.
• Collegiate athletic competitions that are conducted indoors are subject to the current indoor gathering limit of 25 persons. Athletes, coaches, referees, and trainers, and other individuals who are necessary for the collegiate sporting event are not included in the number of people.
• Operators of sports activities may permit up to two parents or guardians per athlete participating in the practice or competition to attend the event.
• The number of people present inside a room where an indoor collegiate athletic practice or competition is taking place may not exceed 35 percent of the capacity of the room, and the limit may not exceed 150 people, except those necessary for the collegiate sporting event.
• Collegiate athletic practices and competitions that are conducted outdoors are subject to the outdoor gathering limit of 50 people. Athletes, coaches, referees, trainers, and other individuals who are necessary for the competitive collegiate sporting event are not included
• Operators of those sports activities may permit up to two parents or guardians per athlete participating in the practice or competition to attend.
• Professional athletic competitions that are conducted indoors are subject to the current indoor gathering limit of 25 persons. Athletes, coaches, referees, and trainers, and other individuals who are necessary for the competitive professional or collegiate sporting event are not included.
• The number of people inside facilities where indoor professional or collegiate athletic competitions are taking place may not exceed 35 percent of the capacity of the room
• Professional athletic competitions that are conducted outdoors are subject to an outdoor gathering limit of 50 persons. Athletes, coaches, referees, and trainers, and other individuals who are necessary for the competitive professional or collegiate sporting event are not included
• All non-collegiate and non-professional athletic practices and competitions that are conducted indoors are subject to the current indoor gathering limit, which was most recently set at 25 persons.
• All non-collegiate and non-professional athletic practices and competitions that are conducted outdoors are subject to the current outdoor gathering limit of 50 persons.
• However, if the number of individuals who are necessary for the practice or competition, such as athletes, coaches, and referees, is greater than 50 people, such a practice or competition may proceed.
• Operators of such sports activities may permit up to two parents or guardians per athlete participating in the practice or competition to attend provided all attendees abide by the applicable requirements.