NEWARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) -- The city of Newark imposed a slew of new restrictions on residents on Tuesday — including temporarily banning sports and mandating a curfew for residents in three ZIP codes — amid a "significant" uptick in COVID-19 cases.
Residents who live in the 07104, 07105 and 07107 ZIP codes in Newark's East Ward must be off the streets by 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends effective immediately, "due to the significant rise in COVID-19 positive cases" in those areas, the city said in an executive order released Tuesday.
All sports in the city, meanwhile, will be banned for two weeks starting Wednesday, Nov. 11, according to the order.
"During this time, all players, coaches, trainers, etc. must be tested for the COVI-19 virus, and have to test negative to resume play," the order states. "When the sport resumes after this two-week period, all players, coaches, trainers, staff must be tested for the COVID-19 virus every week."
Players who are on the sidelines must wear face masks and practice social distancing, the order says.
Newark will continue to impose an 8 p.m. citywide curfew on non-essential businesses, the order notes. The city will also limit both indoor and outdoor gatherings to 10 people maximum.
In addition to the restrictions above, the executive order mandates the following rules — all of which will remain in effect indefinitely:
For restaurants/businesses/offices:
- Restaurants, businesses and offices must close for a minimum of 48 hours for cleaning if two or more customers or patrons test positive for COVID-19.
- Restaurants cannot serve more than 10 people at a time.
- Businesses must close for a minimum of two weeks if an employee or worker tests positive for COVID-19.
- Businesses must check temperatures before anyone enters the building, and bar anyone with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees from entering.
For housing:
- Long-term health care facilities must not allow visitors.
- Senior housing building residents are only allowed one non-essential visitor per unit per day.
- Building managers and security must check temperatures before anyone enters the building. No one with a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees will be allowed inside.
For religious services
- Houses of worship must restrict services to 25 percent capacity.
- Anyone who speaks or sings during a religious service must wear a mask, including pastors and other religious leaders.
- Houses of worship must also perform temperature checks, and bar anyone with a temperature above 100.4 from entering.
The city will issue violations to — and potentially shutter — any businesses that refuse to adhere to the new rules, the order states.
Essex County, where Newark is located, reported 675 new positive COVID-19 test results on Tuesday, far surpassing any other county's daily case count, Gov. Phil Murphy reported earlier in the day.
