TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- New Jersey's outdoor amusement parks, outdoor water parks and playgrounds will be able to reopen at the beginning of July, Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday.
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Outdoor water parks and amusement parks — including rides on the state's boardwalks — will be able to reopen at 50 percent capacity on July 2, Murphy said during his daily briefing. Playgrounds across the state will also be able to reopen that day, he said.
"It should be anticipated that park attendance will be kept at first to 50 percent of listed capacity and that face coverings will be required of all staff and attendees where they are practicable," Murphy said.
Rides must be configured to ensure six-foot distance between groups, and must be "frequently sanitized" by their operators, he noted.
"With next week's July 4th holiday weekend rapidly approaching, and with families rightfully looking for ways to enjoy their time off together, we wanted to make it known that, yes, the rides will be in operation, but moreover, we want everyone to enjoy their time together responsibly," he said.
The state will provide a timeline for the reopening of indoor recreation facilities — including arcades along the boardwalks — on Wednesday, he added.
"The only reason we are comfortable making these announcements this week is because social distancing and everything else you're doing, folks, is actually working," he said.
Murphy reported 382 new COVID-19 cases and 57 new deaths on Tuesday, bringing the state's case total to 169,734 and its death toll to 12,949.
Fifty of the 57 people who died were staying at long-term care facilities, he said.
As of Monday evening, 1,092 New Jerseyans were hospitalized with COVID-19, 307 of whom were in critical or intensive care, he said.
During Murphy's briefing on Tuesday, Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli warned of a "concerning pattern" the state has seen in the data: a rise in the number of positive cases among younger residents.
In April, New Jerseyans between the ages of 18 and 29 accounted for 12 percent of the state's COVID-19 cases; in June, that group accounted for 22 percent, she said.
"While we know that some of this increase can be attributed to an increase in access to testing, we are still concerned about this trend," she said.
More than 640 residents between the ages of 18 and 29 have been hospitalized for complications related to the virus, and more than 50 people in the age group have died, she noted.
"While they do represent a small percentage of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, this population can spread the virus to more vulnerable populations," she said. "So the fewer young persons who become infected, the lower risk to the older population."
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