June 29, 2020

SEE UPDATED MIDJERSEY.NEWS STORY HERE AND EXECUTIVE ORDER: Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order Temporarily Pausing the Resumption of Indoor Dining

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–Governor Murphy just announced that indoor dining reopening has been postponed. Further information to follow.

“UPDATE: INDOOR DINING WILL NO LONGER RESUME ON THURSDAY.

We had planned to loosen restrictions this week. However, after #COVID19 spikes in other states driven by, in part, the return of indoor dining, we have decided to postpone indoor dining indefinitely.”

We’re also moved to pause indoor dining because of what we’ve seen in some establishments across the state.

Overcrowding. A complete disregard for social distancing. Very few, IF ANY, face coverings.

The scenes we see in our newspapers and on social media CANNOT CONTINUE.

We have been cautious throughout every step of our restart.

We’ve always said that we would not hesitate to hit pause if needed to safeguard public health.

This is one of those times.

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Check out this recent scene in Jersey City, thanks to places like this the rest of NJ must suffer:

📢🚨 The Factory on Communipaw has regularly violated COVID restrictions throughout the pandemic. 100s of people inside w/ no masks twice this weekend. JCPD summonses were issued both times. We’ll see them in court (1/2) 🏛 pic.twitter.com/HPzBjgjyD9

— Jake Hudnut (@JakeHudnut) June 29, 2020

We’ve had issues there before: noise, fire exits blocked, etc. Some businesses think they have connections that put them above the law. Nope. The mandate to the QOL Taskforce has always been: enforce evenly & objectively. Residents’ public health & safety come first (2/2)

— Jake Hudnut (@JakeHudnut) June 29, 2020

Compliance isn’t a polite suggestion. It is required.
 
Selflessness, not selfishness.

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) June 29, 2020

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