By Allison Perrine
NEW JERSEY – Masks aren’t out of our lives yet, but those who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear them outdoors in most cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Tuesday that people who are fully vaccinated can gather and conduct activities outdoors without masks, unless in crowded settings or venues.
“Because of everything you’re doing, whether it is continuing to wear your masks and social distancing or getting vaccinated, you are helping us crush these curves yet again. Because of that, we are pleased to be able to take more steps forward in our reopening process,” said Gov. Phil Murphy.
With more New Jerseyans continuing to get vaccinated and new cases of COVID-19 declining, the state redefined “large outdoor venues” as having 1,000 or more fixed seats. As of May 10, those venues will be permitted to host crowds at 50 percent capacity rather than the existing 30 percent capacity limit, as long as 6 feet of social distance can be maintained between seated groups.
The gathering increase is a positive for school districts as most prepare for prom and graduation ceremonies in the coming weeks. According to Murphy, dance floors may now open at indoor private catered events – including proms – with masking and social distancing, but they still remain closed at bars and nightclubs. Schools and universities may also utilize the increased outdoor gathering and large venue capacity limits to host “more robust graduation ceremonies.”
Also effective May 10, carnivals and fairs will be allowed to operate at outdoor amusement business capacity limits, which is currently 50 percent, according to the state.
“Our robust COVID-19 vaccination program is starting to show results through lower COVID-19 case metrics including a decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations,” said Murphy. “This allows us to take steps so that New Jerseyans can have a much more normal summer, including allowing for students to celebrate important milestones and events like graduations and proms in-person. We hope to announce further reopening steps in the coming weeks as more and more state residents get vaccinated.”
At indoor private catered events, including proms, capacity limits will be raised to 50 percent of the room with a maximum of 250 people, an increase from 35 percent capacity with a maximum of 150 people. The same increase stands for political events, weddings, funerals, memorial services and performances. Indoor religious services may also operate at 50 percent capacity but without a numerical cap, according to the state.
On Wednesday, Murphy signed an executive order authorizing day camps and sleepaway camps to open this summer with guidelines from the state Department of Health. That includes indoor masking and daily health screenings, especially for overnight camps. There will be flexibility, however, for day trips and off-camp activities. Any unvaccinated campers or staff members at the overnight camps must take a COVID-19 test before the session begins and within the first few days after it starts.
“The continued cooperation with public health preventive measures and increasing vaccination rates among New Jersey residents allows for this easing of restrictions in the state,” said state health commissioner Judy Persichilli. “We encourage all residents 16 and older to get a COVID-19 vaccine. It will not only protect you, but it will help us drive down community spread, so we can reopen the state further.”
As of Wednesday, April 28, there were 2,915,754 fully vaccinated individuals statewide, which brings the state to about 62 percent of its goal to fully vaccinate 4.7 million adults by the end of June. According to Murphy, New Jersey ranks 10th nationally in total doses administered per 100,000 residents, eighth in the percent of all adults with at least one dose and eighth in the percent of fully vaccinated adults.
“We’re not patting ourselves on the back; this is a journey that is not nearly over yet,” he said, adding that “most if not all of the states” ahead of New Jersey in rankings have “far fewer residents.”
The statewide cumulative total of COVID-19 cases as of Wednesday reached 869,343 positive PCR tests and 123,779 positive antigen tests. The daily positivity rate as of April 24 was 8.99 percent, which Murphy called “significant” because the state has had a double-digit positivity rate every Saturday, Sunday and holiday for months.
As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, there were 1,768 individuals in state hospitals, 1,646 of whom were confirmed COVID-positive. Of that total, 365 were in intensive care units and 232 were on ventilators. Throughout the day Tuesday, 214 people were discharged from hospitals while 188 were admitted. There were 24 in-hospital deaths that are suspected to be related to COVID-19. The state death toll is now 22,884, with 2,625 probable deaths that have not been lab-confirmed.
The article originally appeared in the April 29 – May 5, 2021 print edition of The Two River Times.
