Gov. Phil Murphy To Reopen More NJ Businesses Amid Coronavirus

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking during a Wednesday news conference, will reopen more businesses as he readies a plan to restart New Jersey's economy amid the coronavirus outbreak. Murphy also announced 1,028 new coronavirus cases and 197 more deaths (you can watch it here, below).

The reopening comes as Murphy has said he plans to provide "hard dates" for restarting New Jersey's economy this week. Read more: Gov. Murphy: 'Hard Dates' Coming For NJ Coronavirus Reopening

Murphy will reopen non-essential retail stores for online and phone ordering and curbside pickup, and will also allow non-essential construction to start back up, all effective 6 a.m. on Monday.

Drive-through events will also be allowed to happen, with social distancing guidelines, effective immediately.

Here is what Murphy is now specifically allowing:

Non-essential retail

Murphy said he will allow non-essential retail to reopen, such as clothing and department stores, but with restrictions.

Those stores will only be allowed to do only online and phone ordering and curbside pick up, he said.

No customers will be allowed back into non-essential stores. "They will have to continue placing orders in advance," he said.

"We can get small businesses back up and running in a manner that continues to protect both workers and shoppers," he said.

Drive-in services

Gatherings of vehicles for drive-in movies or religious services are no longer "a violation of my order prohibiting mass gatherings," Murphy said, though he said people must remain in their cars.

If cars are within six feet apart, windows must remain closed, Murphy said.

In a similar manner, Murphy said he will allow outdoor graduations "as long as you stay in the car."

"And I wish I could say – I got a high school senior who came out to me and I would love to be able to say, 'You're all set to gather face-to-face.' But we're not there yet."

Non-essential construction

Murphy said work can resume at construction sites as long sensible safeguards are in place, such as:

• Preventing overcrowding
• Requiring face coverings
• Prohibiting non-essential visitors
• Staggering work hours and breaks; and
• Ensuring proper sanitation.

"We are taking the next steps down New Jersey's road back," Murphy said, adding that public health, medical experts and the data say New Jersey can now do it safely.

New Jersey's daily number of new cases dropped below 1,000 for the first time in two months on Tuesday.

Murphy credited New Jerseyans for practicing proper social distancing over the past two months, and said the state's plans to expand testing and start contact tracing will also help contain the disease.

Murphy said the state was purposely moving slowly and deliberately to prevent further outbreaks "We have to be quick but we have to be righ," he said.

Murphy also credited Chester Borough Mayor Janet Hoven for making a "compelling" case in pushing to reopen retail businesses. Read more: Chester Borough Mayor Texts Governor For Business Assistance

Under Murphy's original stay-at-home order, grocery and other food stores have been allowed to reopen while restaurants and other eateries have been only allowed to provide curbside pickup.

Others that were allowed to stay open include pharmacies and medical marijuana dispensaries, medical supply stores, gas stations, hardware and home improvement stores, banks, laundromats and dry-cleaning services, pet stores, liquor stores, car dealerships and printing and office supply shops. Read more: Gov. Murphy Announces NJ 'Stay-At-Home' Order Due To Coronavirus

The update comes as the number of cases continues to rise in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Watch Murphy here:

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