The capacity limit on indoor catered events in New Jersey, such weddings and proms, put in place to battle the coronavirus pandemic will increase to 50% and up to 250 people starting May 10, and dance floors at these events can be open, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday.
Murphy — who in recent days teased “major” reopening news Monday — made the announcement the same day he said the size of outdoor gatherings in the state will also increase on May 10. He cited the declining number of new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the state as reasons for easing the restrictions.
Currently, indoor catered events are limited to 35% capacity, with up to 150 people.
Masks and social distancing will still be required at these events despite the changes.
“Dance floors will be allowed to open at such events,” Murphy said Monday during his latest COVID-19 briefing in Trenton. “However, a reminder that the requirement for wearing a facemask and keeping a social distance from other groups on a dance floor will be maintained and strictly enforced.”
Still, dance floors at bars and restaurants remain off-limits, Murphy said. The exemption is just for private indoor catered events.
Murphy said the distinction between allowing dancing at proms and weddings, but not at restaurants and nightclubs is a “calculated risk.” He said they believe catered events would more likely be closely monitored for social distancing.
”These are big-deal events,” Murphy said of proms and weddings. “It is admittedly somewhat of a fine line.”
Monday’s announcement does not include increased capacities for indoor stores, gyms, casinos, movie theaters, and dining at restaurants in the state, which will remain limited to 50%.
Asked when restaurants can see indoor dining limits increase, the governor said: “If the numbers keep going like they’ve been going, it will be sooner than later. I don’t have any news to report on that front.”
While other states have either lifted most COVID-19 restrictions or, like neighboring Connecticut, announced plans to do so, Murphy has said he will continue to reopen New Jersey incrementally and not in one fell swoop.
He said Monday more restrictions will likely be loosened sooner than later if the current trends continue to play out.
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But some Republicans were disappointed in Monday’s news, arguing Murphy, a Democrat, is still moving too slowly to lift restrictions nearly 14 months into the pandemic. State Sen. Steven Oroho, R-Sussex, said the governor “doesn’t seem to understand that people are sick and tired of ‘reopening’ announcements that don’t include an actual reopening.”
“There’s nothing ‘major’ about being meek, especially when other states across the nation have rescinded their limits in full and are getting back to living,” Oroho added.
State Sen. Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, tweeted that “this needless, slow-roll, micromanagement is totally demoralizing to the restaurant industry.”
Former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, the favorite for the Republican nomination to challenge Murphy in November’s governor’s race, said Monday’s news conference was “nothing but more political theater,” without a timeline to fully reopen the state.
“The people of New Jersey see through this nonsense and they are tired of it,” Ciattarelli added. “They deserve a real plan for a full reopening, with real timelines and an end to limitless executive orders.”
The state’s seven-day rolling average for new cases in the state is now 2,279 — down 26% from a week ago and 32% from a month ago. The seven-day average hasn’t been below 2,300 since early November.
New Jersey’s COVID-19 hospitalizations dropped for the fifth straight day, with 1,797 patients as of Sunday night. That’s the lowest number since March 7.
The state on Monday announced another 1,247 confirmed coronavirus casesand an additional 19 confirmed deaths.
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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.
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Crowd limits for N.J. proms, weddings, other indoor events to increase. Dance floors open, too. - NJ.com
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