On the same day outdoor dining in New Jersey resumed and nonessential businesses were allowed to welcome customers inside for the first time since March, health officials laid the groundwork for youth sports to be able to hit the fields and courts as the state continues to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Many restaurants and bars said they were very busy on a sunny, pleasant day as New Jerseyans continue to leave their homes following last week’s lifting of the months-long stay-at-home order.
"I couldn’t wait to get out,'' a woman dining in Point Pleasant Beach said. "It makes you feel good to sit down and eat, see other people.''
The state handed out 646 liquor license permits in recent weeks to allow restaurants to serve alcohol outside as they gradually open their doors. Each restaurant paid $75 for the temporary permit.
Gov. Phil Murphy said so-called “low-risk” organized youth sports such as tennis and golf can resume competition Monday while “medium-risk” sports such as baseball and basketball can only hold no-contact practices until games can start on July 6.
Sports under the oversight of either the NJSIAA or NCAA must abide by those associations’ rules.
All organized sports must screen athletes, coaches and staff for signs of the virus using temperature checks and health questionnaire, said Judith Persichilli, the commissioner of the state health department.
She also said organizers must create prep plans for their sports programs, and identify either staff or volunteers to remind players, coachers and attendees to employ social distancing.
Staff and attendees must wear cloth masks, but athletes should only cover their faces when they have downtime and are not exerting themselves.
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Here’s a roundup of coronavirus news:
When could N.J. hit Stage 3 of coronavirus reopening? Expect ‘weeks and not months,’ Murphy says.: New Jersey could move to “Stage 3” of its coronavirus reopening plan — a phase that includes indoor dining, reopened bars and entertainment with restrictions — within weeks if the coronavirus outbreak in the state continues to slow, Murphy said Monday.
“I think this is a question of weeks and not months,” Murphy said Monday when asked for a date on Step 3. “I hope we’ll be giving more some more guidance on some steps even as much as later this week.”
2nd child dies from coronavirus in N.J.: A second child has died in New Jersey from the coronavirus, state health officials said Monday.
The child was a “very young individual” with an underlying medical condition, Persichilli said. She declined to be more specific about the age or underlying condition out of respect to the family.
N.J. coronavirus death toll increases to 12,676 with 167,103 total cases: New Jersey has now lost 12,676 lives over the last three months to the coronavirus outbreak with the total positive tests climbing to 167,103 on Monday.
The latest update includes more than 50 new deaths and 274 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. That’s the lowest number of new cases since March 19 when the state reported 155 new positive tests, though health officials have warned about reporting lags over the weekend.
Gov. Murphy heckled during live TV interview on Asbury Park boardwalk about coronavirus reopening: A heckler got the attention of Murphy during a live television interview on the Asbury Park boardwalk Monday morning as he discussed the start of Stage 2 of the coronavirus reopening strategy.
While talking with Savannah Guthrie of NBC’s “Today Show,” a man who was off camera repeatedly screamed at the governor about how Murphy has handled the reopening of non-essential businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. In one part of the man’s rant, he referred to Murphy as a “traitor.”
Secret recordings claim health official was fired over suspected leaks as internal investigation heats up: An investigation within the Department of Health into the leak of confidential documents regarding the pandemic’s grim impact on the state’s nursing homes is expanding, according to sources with knowledge of the inquiry.
More than 20 people have now been questioned as part of a state Ethics Commission probe into leaked data and recorded conversations obtained by NJ Advance Media, according to those sources.
N.J. gave 'false hope’ to parents, now special education schools will stay closed, leaders say: A coalition of New Jersey schools serving more than 3,000 special education students will remain closed this summer, saying state guidance for reopening in July is “insufficient” for hosting students with special needs.
The schools, including those from eight county special services districts, said in a statement that the state’s announcement allowing summer school programs to begin next month as the coronavirus spread slows gave parents “false hope." The guidance for reopening — issued last week by Murphy’s administration — came too late and is “general in nature,” the schools said.
FDA revokes use of hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus treatment: U.S. regulators on Monday revoked emergency authorization for malaria drugs promoted by President Donald Trump for treating COVID-19 amid growing evidence they don’t work and could cause deadly side effects.
The Food and Drug Administration said the drugs hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are unlikely to be effective in treating the coronavirus. Citing reports of heart complications, the FDA said the drugs’ unproven benefits “do not outweigh the known and potential risks.”
Keeping amusements and boardwalk attractions closed is hurting us, Shore chamber pleads to Murphy: As more businesses and industries that were shut down by the coronavirus begin to reopen across New Jersey, one group feels that they should be included in the reopening.
The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce started a change.org petition calling for Murphy to open up amusements and attractions, arguing the businesses have been, “overlooked and discriminated against."
This N.J. county is shutting down its coronavirus testing site. Here’s why: Sussex County is shutting down its coronavirus testing site on Friday, citing a declining number of tests and rising costs. The testing site, located at Sussex County Community College in Newton, opened on May 11.
As of last Wednesday, nine of 328 tests had yielded confirmed coronavirus cases, with 64 results — including 55 tests on June 5, June 8 and June 10, still pending, county officials said Monday in announcing the impending shutdown.
U.S. cases: More than 116,000 of the approximately 2.1 million infected have died as of early Tuesday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Worldwide cases: There have been 8 million cases with more than 437,000 deaths in 188 countries, the center reports. At least 3.8 million have recovered.
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The Associated Press and NJ Advance Media staff writers Ted Sherman, Susan K. Livio, Matt Arco, Amanda Hoover, Peter Genovese, Chris Franklin and Rob Jennings contributed to this report.