TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has put New Jersey’s reopening in reverse today, scaling down the number of people allowed to congregate together indoors down to 25 people or 25% max capacity of a room. In June, Murphy announced that limit would be raised to 100 people, but after a string of parties where the Governor’s administration cited COVID-19 outbreaks and a 700 person house party in Jackson Township last weekend.
This change will not apply to weddings, funerals and memorial services. Also not covered are political activities, protests and religious activities protected under the first amendment.
Those events can have up to 100 persons or 25% of a building’s maximum capacity, whichever is lower.
“To be clear the tightening caps the limit on indoor house parties to 25 people, period,” Murphy said. “Action
This week, after a large mansion party in Jackson Township, Murphy commended Air BnB for delisting 35 problem homes around the state of New Jersey. Murphy said those party houses were targeted, including the Jackson home that hosted that party.
“This is a welcome step to not only restore some sanity and to keep the peace in neighborhoods, but also to curtail the dangerous actions of few, who put many people in their communities at risk,” Murphy said. “We know that there are many more who have been responsible in their actions, unfortunately the actions of a few knuckleheads leave us no other course, we have to go back and tighten these restrictions.”
Murphy also cited parties by young adults in his hometown of Middletown and also in Long Beach Island where as many as 50 contracted COVID-19 during house parties, including two-dozen lifeguards at the Jersey Shore.