As indoor dining in New Jersey returned with restrictions Friday in time for Labor Day weekend, Gov. Phil Murphy issued a stern warning to bars and restaurants: Follow the rules, or you might not see capacity increases.
Still, Murphy said he didn’t anticipate having to pull back indoor dining despite some of the state’s coronavirus numbers rising slightly in recent days — even though he canceled an earlier plan to allow it in July because of troubling metrics.
After being ordered closed for nearly six months to help fight the virus, the Garden State allowed bars and restaurants to offer 25% indoor dining starting Friday morning, in addition to mask and social distancing restrictions.
“With the resumption today of indoor dining, let this be a warning to everyone out there,” Murphy said during his latest coronavirus briefing in Trenton. “The limits we have placed on capacities, and the public health protocols we have put in place are not kind suggestions — they are mandated. We will not tolerate any violations, and we will not be afraid to come down hard and make an example of those who think the rules don’t apply to them.”
The governor added “there is nothing more I would like to do than to eventually expand restaurant capacities.”
“But I cannot and will not be able to do that if this weekend, and the weeks to follow, see a slew of restaurant owners and managers flagrantly violating the rules in that are in place,” he said. “So let’s work together for a safe return of indoor dining, and we can ensure there will be better days ahead.”
New Jersey was the last state in America to permit at least some indoor dining to return. Murphy had originally announced limited indoor dining could reopen July 4th weekend, but he reversed those plans at the last minute, saying it was still too dangerous.
The governor said earlier this week that he would likely be forced to shut indoor dining down if New Jersey sees “a sustained increase” in coronavirus numbers, such as the rate of transmission, new cases, and new hospitalizations. He said “one day or even a couple of days” of bad numbers wouldn’t spark a reversal.
The return of indoor dining Friday comes on the six-month mark since New Jersey — once a coronavirus hotspot — announced its first COVID-19 case March 4.
The state’s daily numbers have improved significantly since then. But Murphy said Friday that figures have been going up and down lately.
State officials on Friday announced seven more deaths attributed to COVID-19 and 478 new cases — the second straight day they reported more than 400 positive tests. Plus, the state’s rate of transmission jumped to 1.03, the first time in a week it was above the critical mark of 1, which shows the outbreak is expanding again.
Still, Murphy was asked whether he anticipates having to shut down both indoor dining, as well as movie theaters, which are also permitted to reopen in New Jersey at 25% capacity and other restrictions Friday.
“I do not,” the governor said, saying he pulled back the plans in July “with a heavy heart.”
“If we see things getting out of hand, we absolutely have that right. But we don’t anticipate having that happen.”
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New Jersey’s restaurant industry has been among the hardest-hit as the economy continues to suffer during the pandemic. Some critics have called on Murphy to allow more indoor dining capacity, saying 25% is not enough after nearly half a year of being closed.
“The prolonged shutdown of restaurants has driven many out of business and severely hurt others that are barely surviving,” state Assemblywoman BettyLou Decroce, R-Morris, said. “The governor’s restriction on indoor dining will not allow restaurant owners to make a profit or recover lost revenue from having their doors locked to customers.”
Will Murphy himself dine indoors at a bar or restaurant this holiday weekend?
The governor said no — he’ll dine outside instead, maybe twice if “Mother Nature cooperates.”
“Not because I have some issue,” Murphy explained. “I love being outside.”
“I won’t be able to say that in December,” he added. “So I’m gonna take that option while we’ve got it.”
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com.
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