#Gov. Phil Murphy says public pools will reopen in New Jersey

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday the Garden State will allow cities to reopen public and private pools on June 22, bringing back a staple of summer life as the season officially begins.

“Municipal and private-club swimming pools can REOPEN on Monday, June 22nd,” Murphy tweeted, adding at the Garden State’s Health Department “will release full guidance tomorrow relating to the procedures and protocols that will need to be followed.”

In New York, pools and other recreational facilities can only reopen under the last of the four phases outlined in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plan to slowly restart the Empire State’s social and economic functions, as officials continue to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic.

Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio celebrated New York City finally beginning to start its own reopening under ‘Phase 1’ of the plan Monday.

Upstate New York is already in ‘Phase 2’, which allows an expanded set of businesses to restart operation provided proper social distancing and other protective measures are implemented.

Westchester is expected to reach the second stage of reopening Tuesday, with Long Island following closely behind and expected to further reopen on Wednesday.