TRENTON (1010 WINS) – Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday expanded the state's definition of "outdoor dining" spaces and said he will sign an executive order requiring face coverings outdoors in situations where people can't socially distance.
Face coverings are already required indoors, but will also be required in outdoor public spaces where social distancing "is not practicable," Murphy said during his daily briefing.
Murphy also said New Jersey would allow restaurants "with fixed roofs that have two open sides comprising at least 50 percent of the total wall space to be considered outdoors, in light of their airflow."
"If you can open that up, that's going to be considered outdoor dining," he said.
The governor reported 335 new COVID-19 cases and 53 new deaths on Wednesday, bringing the state's case total to 174,039 and its death toll to 13,476.
The state is currently tracking 1,947 probable COVID-19 deaths, he said. As of Tuesday, 935 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19, 175 of whom were in critical or intensive care.
In an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" ahead of his briefing, the governor said there was "no question that face coverings are game-changers."
"I think we were the first state in America to require them indoors. They've been strongly recommended out of doors. We're going to turn that up a notch today," he said. "We're going to ask you if you can't socially distance, it's going to be required."
Up until Wednesday, wearing masks in public places outdoors had been strongly recommended, but not required.
The order is in addition to current rules requiring face coverings at indoor public places like stores.
"We have to take this step, particularly given the hotspots we're seeing elsewhere in the country," Murphy said.
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