Phil Murphy announced Friday during a media briefing that he is signing an executive order that increases the number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings from 10 to 25. However he added that the social distancing guidelines are still operative.
He also said that recreational campgrounds, both public and private, are open effective immediately.
“We are able to confidently make this decision today because of the hard work that we put in through social distancing to relieve the stresses on our healthcare system,” Murphy said.
You can read: NJ health authorities closed gym that defied shutdown orders.
The Governor made clear that the new directive on outdoor gatherings does not include dining or graduations, adding he hopes to announce more on the latter next week. Also he pointed out that the 10-person limit for indoor gatherings remains unchanged.
“If you’re looking forward to gathering with your neighbors for a Memorial Day cookout, you may do so, as long as social distancing and personal responsibility remain the order of the day,” he said.
His arguments to justify the new measures focus on the clear decrease in hospitalization cases. According to the data that the Governor handles, patients in the hospital, in the Intensive Care Unit, and on ventilators have dropped “dramatically.”
Murphy said New Jersey continues to be at or near the top of the list in metrics nationally, including new cases per 100,000 residents (13), patients in the hospital per 100,000 residents (38), and new deaths per 100,000 residents (1.3), but added those numbers are slowly decreasing and that the public needs to continue to behave “responsibly and deliberately.”
The Governor is confident about progress towards the reopening phases ahead. “Each day brings with it more signs that we are moving closer to being able to enter Phase 2 of our restart,” he said.
Noticias Newswire
