New Jersey’s Latest Stage Reopens Outdoor Dining, Daycare, Retail

(Bloomberg) -- New Jersey entered the second stage of its reopening on Monday. Outdoor dining, nonessential retail businesses, daycare and other services were allowed to operate with distancing, masking, crowd limits and other precautions in place.

The state is “in a safer position” to begin the latest of its four-stage reopening because hospitalizations are down, Governor Phil Murphy said. Opening too soon will smother consumer confidence, he said, as other states that reopened last month have begun to see fresh outbreaks.

Gyms and indoor dining “remain the most dangerous,” Murphy said.

New Jersey’s death toll rose by 52 to 12,676, while new cases increased by 274 to 167,103, a 0.1% rise that was less than the 0.2% increase of the prior seven-day average.

Murphy has said he will monitor virus cases and deaths for signs of a dangerous spike, and restore restrictions if necessary. New Jersey coronavirus deaths in 102 days surpassed the state’s 12,565 military service members lost during four years of World War II, Murphy said.

Organized outdoor sports can resume on June 22, as can golf and tennis competitions, Murphy said. Organizers of sports with high risks for virus spread, such as football, can conduct drills without physical contact.

“For the time being, all employees who can work from home -- we ask you to remain on the work-at-home status,” Murphy said.

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