TRENTON, N.J. (WCBS 880) — Restaurants in New Jersey will be allowed to increase indoor dining capacity to 50% late next week, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.
Effective Friday, March 19, all restaurants in the state can increase capacity from 35% to 50%. The change will also apply to all recreational facilities, gyms and fitness clubs, and personal care business, such as barber shops and hair salons.
Murphy notes that the state will also be making changes to the state's indoor and outdoor gathering limits, which will also take effect next Friday.
Any indoor gathering that is not for religious services or ceremonies, political events, weddings, funerals or memorial services will be moved up from just 10 people to 25 people. Outdoor gatherings will also move up to 50 people.
“We feel confident in these steps, given the data that we’ve been seeing over the past five weeks, since the last time we expanded the indoor reality,” the governor said.
Murphy said New Jersey continues to follow data and puts public health first before taking a dig at Texas and Mississippi, which have completely abandoned all coronavirus restrictions.
“Unlike some states which are prioritizing, frankly, politics over public health – Texas and Mississippi come to mind – our mask mandate remains in effect and will continue to be enforced,” Murphy said.
New York City recently increased indoor dining capacity to 35% as well, to prevent residents in the five boroughs from traveling across the Hudson to eat in New Jersey.
Following Murphy's announcement. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York City will also increase indoor dining capacity to 50% on March 19.
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In New Jersey, Murphy says the state has seen a steady decline in new coronavirus cases, with the seven-day average down 3% from a week ago and 8% from a month ago.
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