NEWARK, NJ – Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said Monday afternoon that he is ordering a citywide COVID-19 shutdown and curfew as positive coronavirus cases surge across the state. Effective 8 p.m. Tuesday, nonessential businesses will have to close at 8 p.m., which is when, according to lockdown advocates, the coronavirus is at its peak. Ok, that was a joke, but either way, salons and barbershops will have to go back to appointment only mode, restaurants must close by 8 p.m. Outdoor dining can continue until 11 p.m.
Baraka said the biggest problem in his city has been indoor house parties. Baraka said he will start fining building owners for violations and all outdoor events in the city have been canceled in the east section of the city.
The mayor also canceled Halloween and said all Halloween events will be shut down if residents try to host trunk or treats or other large parties. He also said that residents should be ready to cancel Halloween, Kwanza, Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
“We have to do whatever we need to do to drop those numbers now,” Baraka said on Monda. “It seems desperate but it’s a desperate moment. We got through this before, so we’ll get through it again.”