COVID-19 Press Information
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2020
CONTACT: Jerrel Harvey
Press Office: Governor’s Office
Email: Jerrel.Harvey@nj.gov
Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Temporarily Pausing the Resumption of Indoor Dining
Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 158, temporarily pausing the resumption of indoor dining, which had been scheduled to resume later this week. The Order also prohibits the consumption of food or beverages and smoking in the indoor premises of any retail, recreational, or entertainment business, including casinos, where masks are strictly required. The Order notes that there is an exception for health and safety, such as an individual briefly removing their mask to drink water.
“Unfortunately, the spike in cases in numerous other states, compounded by instances of non-compliance in New Jersey, require us to hit pause on the restart of indoor dining indefinitely,” said Governor Murphy. “I recognize that there are many establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, but we cannot move forward unless there is complete compliance. Throughout every step of our restart, we have been clear that we would not hesitate to hit pause to safeguard public health, and this is one of those times.”
In light of today’s Order, the Department of Health issued an updated Executive Directive for food and beverage establishments, which will be continue to be restricted to in-person service at outdoor areas only.
For a copy of Executive Order No. 158, please click here.
For a copy of the Department of Health’s updated Executive Directive for restaurants, please click here.