TRENTON, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- Non-essential retail stores in New Jersey will be able to reopen to customers in less than two weeks, with some restrictions, Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday.
Retail stores will be able to allow customers inside starting Monday, June 15, but capacity will be limited to 50 percent, Murphy said during his daily briefing Thursday.
Customers and employees alike will have to wear face coverings, and common areas will have to be "regularly sanitized," he said.
Murphy on Thursday reported 603 new COVID-19 cases and 92 new deaths, bringing the total number of cases statewide to 162,530 and the statewide death toll to 11,970.
A total of 1,982 people in the state were hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Thursday, 406 of whom were on ventilators, he said.
"Getting below 2,000 hospitalizations is a MILESTONE for our recovery," he tweeted. "Yesterday, we had far more people LEAVE our hospitals than enter them."
