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Construction sites can resume too, both taking effect Monday at 6 a.m.
At construction sites, the governor is allowing work to resume, with “sensible safeguards,” including posting safety protocols on site, preventing overcrowding and visits from non-essential individuals, staggering work hours and breaks for workers, and guaranteeing sanitary conditions.
Customers are not allowed to gather inside the reopened retail stores.
Reciting his mantra — “data determines dates” — like an incantation, Murphy also offered some clarity on gatherings of people in vehicles.
Gatherings of people in vehicles do not violate the standing order against mass gatherings. Cars must stay 6 feet apart. Barring that, all windows, rooftop openings and convertible tops must be closed. People are free to gather at drive-in movies, for example, as long as everyone stays in their cars — and as long as everyone can find a drive-in movie theater to gather at.
“The data we are seeing gives us confidence that we can begin the restart of our economy,” the governor said, “to get people back to work, and set the stage for the steps to come.”
Some, including Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, suggested the governor favored large box stores, like Walmart, while excluding mom and pop outlets.
“Why does the small businessman have to be, now that he is allowed to open, he has to open with those restrictions?” Levinson asked.
Murphy praised New Jersey residents who have been sticking to social distancing guidelines.
“Over the coming days and weeks, we'll be able to take more steps,” Murphy said via Twitter. “We’re moving slowly and deliberately because any misstep risks further outbreaks. When public health tells us it is safe to remove a restriction, we’ll remove it. Not a moment before. Not a moment after.”
New Jersey health officials confirmed an additional 1,028 positive COVID-19 test results since Tuesday’s report. The current statewide total is 141,560 cases.
Among those patients, 197 deaths have been confirmed in the last 24 hours. A total of 9,702 New Jersey residents have died from COVID-19 complications.
In South Jersey, 738 people have passed away among almost 14,500 positive test results.
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