Gov. Phil Murphy announced that New Jersey would be postponing its planned reopening of indoor dining and shopping facilities because of a new spike in coronavirus cases.
Murphy, a Democrat, said on Monday that businesses that have been allowed to partially reopen have not been fully complying with mandatory face mask usage and other social distancing mandates. He said that he does not want noncompliant businesses to contribute to a spike in COVID-19 cases, as several other states, such as California, Texas, and Florida, have seen in recent weeks.
“UPDATE: INDOOR DINING WILL NO LONGER RESUME ON THURSDAY,” Murphy tweeted. “We had planned to loosen restrictions this week. However, after #COVID19 spikes in other states driven by, in part, the return of indoor dining, we have decided to postpone indoor dining indefinitely.”
“We have been cautious throughout every step of our restart,” he wrote. “We’ve always said that we would not hesitate to hit pause if needed to safeguard public health. This is one of those times.”
[Click here for complete coronavirus coverage]
We have been cautious throughout every step of our restart.
We’ve always said that we would not hesitate to hit pause if needed to safeguard public health.
This is one of those times.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 29, 2020
Murphy blamed restaurants that have been filmed allowing massive crowds to gather together without the use of face masks. He acknowledged that some business owners were following the guidelines but said the reopening cannot continue without full compliance.
“We’re also moved to pause indoor dining because of what we’ve seen in some establishments across the state. Overcrowding. A complete disregard for social distancing. Very few, IF ANY, face coverings,” he wrote. “The scenes we see in our newspapers and on social media CANNOT CONTINUE.”
“I recognize that there are many more establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, who have lived up not just to the guidance we’ve released, but to the spirit of community in helping to protect patrons and residents,” he continued. “The carelessness of one establishment can completely undo the good work of many others. We will not tolerate outlier bars and restaurants – and, frankly, patrons – who think the rules don’t apply to them.”
I recognize that there are many more establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, who have lived up not just to the guidance we’ve released, but to the spirit of community in helping to protect patrons and residents.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 29, 2020
Compliance isn’t a polite suggestion. It is required.
Selflessness, not selfishness.— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 29, 2020
New Jersey had the third-largest coronavirus outbreak in the country, with nearly 15,000 coronavirus-related deaths. As it and the nearby states of New York and Connecticut have begun to curb their coronavirus outbreaks, they announced a travel advisory mandating that visitors from states with high community spread must quarantine for 14 days.
Several states have reversed or postponed parts of their reopenings because of new outbreaks of the virus. Both Texas and California have ordered bars in some regions of their states to close once again because of the spread of coronavirus in young people.
