TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Aquariums, libraries, museums and some indoor recreation can reopen from their coronavirus pause July 2, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday.
Masks will be required and capacity must be limited to 25%, the Democratic governor said during a news conference.
The indoor recreation businesses cleared to reopen are bowling alleys, batting cages and arcades, the governor said, though they must also limit capacity to a quarter and require masks for patrons and workers. Gyms and fitness centers can reopen July 2, but only for individual training sessions, he said.
Murphy also said New Jersey Transit’s rail and light rail will resume weekday service July 6.
Murphy’s announcements came the same day the Democratic governors of New York and Connecticut joined him to require people traveling to those states from others with high coronavirus rates to isolate for two weeks.
There were roughly 300 new positive cases reported in New Jersey since Tuesday, Murphy said, putting the overall figure at 170,000. The death toll grew by 48 to 12,995.
Despite New Jersey’s hospitalization rate being down 86% from the peak, it climbed 11% compared with a week ago, Murphy said, imploring people to wear masks and continue to keep social distance even as the state reopens.
New Jersey is in Stage 2 of three of reopening from the late-March stay-home order Murphy issued.
For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness or death.
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