Gov. Murphy: 'Hard Dates' In NJ Coronavirus Reopening Blueprint

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy has been releasing "hard dates" and specifics on New Jersey's plans to reopen its economy during the coronavirus crisis. And he was expected to provide more details over the course of the year.

Murphy said that New Jersey is "well into" stage three of the state's reopening and that more could ultimately be allowed to restart if the Garden State's numbers remain low. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ 'Well Into' Stage 3 Of Coronavirus Reopening

Here is what has opened:

• Fishing charters and watercraft rentals reopened at 6 a.m on May 17th
• Nonessential retail stores for online and phone ordering and curbside pickup, as well as nonessential construction, were allowed to resume at 6 a.m. on May 18th
• In-person automobile and motorcycle sales were allowed to return on May 20th
• Beaches were allowed to reopen on May 22nd
• Batting cages and golf ranges, with foursomes – not just pairings – were allowed to tee-off on May 22nd
• Shooting and archery ranges, horseback riding and private tennis clubs and community gardens were allowed to resume on May 22nd
• Elective and invasive surgeries were allowed to resume on May 26th
• The limit on outdoor gatherings was raised from 25 to 100 on June 9th, paving the way for outdoor entertainment, recreational activities, religious services and protests to resume
• The limit on indoor gatherings was raised to 25 percent capacity, or 50 people total, on June 9th, paving the way for indoor church services to resume
• Libraries were allowed to do curbside pickup beginning on June 12th
• Open houses to view real estate, with attendees wearing face coverings, resumed on June 14th
• Car washes were allowed to resume on June 14th
• Yard and garage sales were allowed to resume on June 14th
• Fireworks displays at public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes and lakeshores were allowed to resume on June 14th
• Outdoor dining reopened on June 15th
• Limited in-person retail reopened on June 15th
• Child care centers reopened on June 15th
• MVC driver services resumed (pick-up only) on June 15th
• Municipal and private-club swimming pools reopened on June 22nd
• Non-contact organized sports activities restarted on June 22nd
• Beauty salons reopened on June 22nd
• Barber shops reopened on June 22nd
• Cosmetology shops reopened on June 22nd
• Day and medical spas (not steam rooms, saunas or shared bathing facilities) reopened on June 22nd
• Electrology facilities reopened on June 22nd
• Hair braiding shops reopened on June 22nd
• Massage parlors reopened on June 22nd
• Nail salons reopened on June 22nd
• Tanning salons reopened on June 22nd
• Tattoo parlors reopened on June 22nd
• The limit on outdoor gatherings rose to 250 on June 22nd
• Indoor gatherings were limited to 25 percent capacity of the rooms in which they will take place, with a maximum of 100 persons, as of June 22nd
• Golf and tennis resumed competitions on June 22nd
• Baseball, softball, soccer and outdoor basketball resumed on June 22nd, but they are limited to non-contact drills and practices.
• Non-contact football drills resumed on June 22nd
• Inspections and road tests resumed on June 29th
• Indoor malls reopened on June 29th
• In-person clinical labs and hands-on programming at colleges were allowed to resume on July 1
• Career and training schools reopened on July 1st
• Gymnastic centers reopened on July 2nd
• Dance studios reopened on July 2nd
• Playgrounds reopened on July 2nd
• Amusement parks reopened on July 2nd
• Water parks reopened on July 2nd.
• Casinos reopened on July 2nd.
• Racetracks reopened for in-person bets on July 2nd
• Museums reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Aquariums reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Bowling alleys reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Shooting ranges reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Arcades reopened at 25 percent of capacity on July 2nd
• Libraries reopened on July 2nd
• Gym and fitness centers opened only for individualized training, and by appointment, involving one person and/or your family on July 2nd
• The limit on outdoor gatherings rose to 500 on July 3rd
• Indoor pools reopened on July 3rd
• Youth summer camps and programs reopened on July 6th
• In-person graduations were allowed to begin on July 6th
• Baseball, softball, soccer and outdoor basketball competitions were allowed to resume on July 6th
• NJ Transit returned to full weekday service on July 6th
• MVC driver in-person driver services, including driver's license renewals, resumed on July 7th
• Some indoor dining spaces that can open to the outside were allowed on July 8th
• NJ Transit's 50-percent capacity limit was lifted on July 15th.
• Full football practices and competitions resumed on July 20th.
• Yoga and martial arts studios were allowed to resume on July 22nd.
• Gyms and indoor amusements reopened on Sept. 1.
• Indoor dining resumed on Sept. 4
• Movie theaters resumed on Sept. 4

Here's Murphy's plan:

Here are the more specific changes that Murphy announced:

• Wednesday, May 13: Murphy got the restart process rolling, announcing that he's reopening non-essential retail stores for curbside pickup, as well as non-essential construction and drive-through operations. Read more: Gov. Phil Murphy To Reopen More NJ Businesses In Coronavirus Crisis
• Thursday, May 14: Murphy announced that New Jersey beaches can reopen and he issued guidelines and rules amid the coronavirus outbreak. He said they'll be open for Memorial Day weekend. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Beaches Will Reopen Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• Friday, May 15: Murphy announced plans to allow more businesses and services to resume, including elective and invasive surgeries. Read more: Gov. Murphy Reopens More Businesses, Services Amid Coronavirus
• Saturday, May 16: Murphy announced he's signed four bills into law to deal with the coronavirus crisis and he's allowing more businesses to reopen, such as watercraft rentals and charter fishing. Read more: Gov. Murphy Signs 4 NJ Coronavirus Bills Into Law, Allows More Reopenings
• Monday, May 18: Murphy announced that he was reopening batting cages and other businesses and activities, and he expanded golfing opportunities. Read more: Gov. Murphy Reopens More NJ Business, Activities Amid Coronavirus
• Tuesday, May 19: Murphy announced he was allowing in-person automobile and motorcycle sales to return. Read more: In-Person Car, Motorcycle Sales To Resume Wednesday In NJ
• Tuesday, May 19: Murphy provided perhaps his most concrete reopening plan yet, offering a "blueprint" for what businesses and activities will soon be able to resume and when. Read more: Gov. Murphy: Here's What Will Reopen Next Amid NJ Coronavirus
• Friday, May 22: Murphy lifted the limit on outdoor gatherings and also allowed for more reopenings, such as recreational campgrounds, while also addressing live graduations. Read more: Gov. Murphy Allows Bigger Gatherings, NJ Coronavirus Reopenings
• Tuesday, May 26: Murphy announced outdoor, socially distanced graduations will be permitted beginning July 6. Read more: NJ To Allow Live Graduations Starting In July, Gov. Murphy Says
• Wednesday, May 27: New Jersey released rules and guidelines for districts and colleges to follow for in-person graduations. Read more: NJ In-Person Graduations: Here Are The New Rules Amid Coronavirus
• Friday, May 29: Murphy announced that he was allowing camps, child care, horse racing and organized sports to resume amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Daycare, Sports, Camps Can Resume In Coronavirus Crisis
• Monday, June 1: Murphy announced plans to open gyms, hair and nail salons, indoor retail and outdoor dining in New Jersey. He provided staggard dates for all. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Reopen NJ Dining, Gyms, Salons Amid Coronavirus
• Tuesday, June 2: New Jersey issued new rules and guidance for reopening outdoor dining at bars and restaurants by June 15th. Read more: Here's What You'll Do At NJ Bars, Restaurants Under Coronavirus Rules
• Thursday, June 4: New Jersey issued rules and guidance for indoor in-person retail on now that Murphy said it can resume operations by June 15th. Read more: NJ Issues New Rules For Indoor Retail, Shopping Amid Coronavirus
• Monday, June 8: Murphy announced that municipal and private-club swimming pools can reopen amid the coronavirus outbreak on June 22nd. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Pools To Reopen Amid Coronavirus: Here's When
• Tuesday, June 9: Murphy lifted New Jersey's stay-at-home order and will allow for much bigger gatherings, paving the way for graduations, protests, outdoor recreation and entertainment and indoor and outdoor church services to occur. Read more: Gov. Murphy Lifts NJ Stay-At-Home Order, Allows Bigger Gatherings
• Thursday, June 18: Murphy allowed indoor shopping malls to reopen amid the coronavirus crisis. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Allow Reopen Of NJ Indoor Malls Amid Coronavirus
• Monday, June 22: Murphy announced several major reopenings, including indoor dining and casinos. Read more: NJ Announces More Reopenings Amid COVID: Indoor Dining, Casinos
• Tuesday, June 23: Murphy announced that playgrounds and water and amusement parks will soon reopen. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Playgrounds, Water And Amusement Parks To Reopen
• Wednesday, June 24: Murphy announced another series of reopenings, including libraries and indoor recreation. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Reopen NJ Libraries, Museums, Indoor Recreation
• Friday, June 26: New Jersey has delayed in-person services for driver's license renewals and other Motor Vehicle Commission responsibilities. Drop-off and pickup services will continue. Read more: NJ Delays Reopening Of Driver's License, MVC In-Person Services
• Friday, June 26: Murphy issued a list of rules and guidelines for reopening schools this fall amid the coronavirus outbreak. Read more: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ School Reopening Rules Amid Coronavirus
• Monday, June 29: Murphy announced that he's delayed the reopening of indoor dining and indoor catering halls. Read more: Gov. Murphy Postpones NJ Indoor Dining Reopen Amid Coronavirus
• Friday, July 2: Murphy announced that indoor pools can reopen. Read more: Gov. Murphy Reopens Indoor Pools In NJ Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• Wednesday, July 8: Murphy allowed an expanded reopening of New Jersey's dining establishments, including some indoor spaces. Read more: Gov. Murphy To Allow Expanded Reopening Of NJ Dining
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: Murphy announced that gyms and indoor amusements can finally reopen amid the coronavirus crisis on Sept. 1. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Gyms, Indoor Amusements Can Reopen Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• Monday, Aug. 31: Murphy announced plans to reopen indoor dining on Friday, Sept. 4. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Indoor Dining To Resume Amid Coronavirus Crisis
• Monday, Aug. 31: Murphy announced that movie theaters and indoor performance venues may reopen on Friday, Sept. 4. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Movie Theaters To Resume Amid Coronavirus Crisis

Murphy said he was looking to present reopening plans that will emphasize how "public health creates economic health," and how they're both necessary to make sure the business world can operate without overloading the state's hospitals.

And these plans have to be done in a way, Murphy said, that recognizes the current reality: The number of cases and deaths from the coronavirus continues to rise every day, even though they've been on a sharp downward trend lately. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, School Reopen Updates: What You Need To Know

One thing Murphy did say: He wasn't going to wait until cases "get to zero" before opening up the economy.

"I think the only data I'm excited about is if we get to zero on any of this, but we're not going to wait until that to begin to take steps that we can take responsibly," Murphy said.

Here's what Murphy also has said and done:

• Opening on a statewide basis, not by region: Even though New Jersey has its fair share of rural areas, Murphy said Tuesday that "we're not New York," where you can drive 200 miles and see barely a house. He reminded people that New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation and "we're all packed in together," especially from a health care perspective. "I'm personally of the opinion that steps we take will be more statewide steps," he said.
• Incremental steps: Murphy said "there is not going to be one magic day when everything is open," adding: "We're going to take a series of incremental steps." Murphy said reopening the state's economy is not "an on-off light switch," but he also indicated that it won't necessarily be based on the number of cases, saying: "This is not as though we're going to hold back everything until we see 'x' and then you'll get 'y.'"
• But how New Jersey opens could depend on the local economy: Murphy said the steps he'll take could depend on the local economic makeup, noting that the Jersey Shore is highly dependent on its seasonal and beach business.
• Expanding testing and starting contact tracing: Murphy revealed that New Jersey is starting a "robust" contact tracing and testing plan. Murphy has said he wants multiply testing before fully reopening, and New Jersey is also hiring as many as 4,000 contact tracers who will help trace and contain the virus. Read more: Gov. Murphy's NJ Contact Tracing Plan For Containing Coronavirus
• Public health emergency ends Aug. 7: Murphy indicated he isn't quite ready to fully reopen — but he's closer — as he extended New Jersey's public health emergency for another 30 days, to July 7. Murphy said New Jersey is "seeing good signs but can't lull ourselves into thinking that all is well" even as "we get closer and closer to our restart."

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