#NJ Gov. Murphy ‘indefinitely’ postpones the reopening of indoor restaurant dining

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New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy
Thomas P. Costello/USA Today Network/Sipa USA

New Jersey is “indefinitely” postponing the reopening of its restaurants for indoor dining, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday, citing coronavirus spikes in other parts of the country.

“UPDATE: INDOOR DINING WILL NO LONGER RESUME ON THURSDAY,” the Democratic governor said in a tweet.

“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.”

New Jersey allowed its bars and restaurants to resume at least outdoor dining June 15 — but Murphy said there is already a problem with that.

“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 governor wrote.

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

“I recognize that there are many more establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, who have lived up not just to the guidance we’ve released, but to the spirit of community in helping to protect patrons and residents,” Murphy said.

But “the carelessness of one establishment can completely undo the good work of many others. We will not tolerate outlier bars and restaurants — and, frankly, patrons — who think the rules don’t apply to them.”

Murphy’s announced pull-back on indoor dining came several hours after New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said New York City may also have to delay allowing its restaurants to provide inside sitdown service.  City restaurants are slated to go to indoor dining at half capacity July 6.

Other states such as Florida, Arizona and Texas have seen a significant rise in COVID-19 cases recently, leading to serious concerns about a new outbreak in New York, Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio noted.

The infection explosion already prompted Cuomo, Murphy and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont to impose a tri-state 14-day quarantine on travelers coming from states recording spikes in cases.