On November 9, Governor Murphy announced new restrictions on bars, restaurants and indoor interstate sports to help curb the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
Effective on Thursday, November 12, restaurants, bars, clubs and lounges will be prohibited from serving food and alcohol between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. New Jersey casinos will also be restricted from serving food and alcohol between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., however gaming may continue during that time.
Additionally, seating at indoor bars will be banned. Bars and restaurants may seat groups of people at tables closer than six feet together if they are separated by plexiglass barriers. Restaurants will also be able to utilize outdoor igloos for individual groups as colder weather approaches.
The Governor also announced indoor interstate sports will end for elementary, middle and high school students. The new restrictions won’t affect college or professional sports.
CCSNJ President & CEO Christina Renna released the following statement on the new restrictions:
“The Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (CCSNJ) respects Governor Murphy’s decision to enact additional restrictions as the State again sees COVID-19 cases rise. However, the CCSNJ is disappointed that the Governor has once again taken a statewide, one-size-fits-all approach, refusing to consider the vast disparities in health metrics throughout different geographical areas of the State. The health and safety of New Jersey residents should always be the first priority, but there is no harm in assessing the data and making smart health and economic decisions that do not treat every area of the state similarly when the health data supports that approach.”
If you have any questions, please contact Hilary Chebra, Manager of Government Affairs at hchebra@chambersnj.com.
