Face masks and social distancing will soon be a thing of the past. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently announced that residents will no longer have to wear face masks indoors or maintain social distancing. Residents who are not vaccinated, however, should continue following those guidelines. The new changes will go into effect Friday, May 28.
“Together, we have made tremendous progress in crushing this virus, and the last two weeks have shown significant decreases in key areas of our data, including new COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, spot positivity rates, and rates of transmission,” said Governor Murphy.
Here are some of the changes going into effect this Friday:
Changes going into effect Friday, May 28
- Businesses overseeing indoor spaces will continue to have the ability to require masking for employees, customers, and/or guests.
- Per CDC guidance, masks will still be required in health care settings, including long-term care facilities and office-based settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation. They’ll also be required in transportation hubs such as airports and stations.
- Additionally, also per CDC guidance, child care centers and facilities, youth summer camps, and public, private, and parochial preschool program premises and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools, are not affected by this announcement and continue to be governed by existing requirements.
- Indoor worksites that are not open to the public remain governed by existing health and safety protocols that employers must follow.
- Masks will continue to be required in public-facing state offices, such as Motor Vehicle Commission agencies.
Lifting the six-foot social distancing requirement
- The requirement will be lifted in businesses, including retail stores, personal care services, gyms, recreational and entertainment businesses, and casinos, and indoor gatherings, including religious services, political activities, weddings, funerals, memorial services, commercial gatherings, catered events, sports competitions, and performances.
- Businesses and entities overseeing indoor spaces can continue to require social distancing should they choose.
Lifting prohibition on dance floors at bars and restaurants
- The prohibition on ordering and eating/drinking while standing at bars and restaurants will also be lifted.
Changes going into effect Friday, June 4
- Removing the general indoor gathering limit, which is currently at 50 people.
- Removing the indoor gathering limit for political gatherings, weddings, funerals, memorial services, performances, and other catered and commercial events, which is currently at 250 people.
- Removing 30 percent capacity limitation for indoor large venues with a fixed-seating capacity over 1,000.
