Gov. Murphy To Allow Expanded Reopening Of NJ Dining

NEW JERSEY – Gov. Phil Murphy, speaking during a Wednesday news conference, will allow an expanded reopening of dining while also issuing an order that New Jerseyans must wear masks if they can't social distance outside. He made the announcement as he revealed 335 additional coronavirus cases and 53 more deaths (you can watch it here, below).

Murphy said he's allowing businesses to open up their indoor spaces if they can expose parts of their buildings – or "wallspace" – to the outside, and if they have an overhang (see details below).

"If you can open up your walls or your doors to the outside and you've got an overhang, up until now, we didn't allow you to do that," Murphy told MSNBC's Morning Joe. "We're going to allow you to do that for now forward."

Murphy said he's still not ready to allow a more expanded version of indoor dining, a plan he postponed last month. He's cited the flare-ups across the country, as well as some concerning signs in New Jersey that the coronavirus's rate of transmission has gone up, as reasons. Read more: NJ Expands Coronavirus Quarantine Order As Reopening 'Paused'

Earlier on Wednesday, Murphy said he's ordering people to wear masks outside if they can't social distance. Read more: Gov. Murphy Orders NJ Masks Outside When Not Social Distancing

Also, earlier this week, Murphy said out-of-state travelers have helped raise New Jersey's transmission rate to its worst number in 10 weeks. Read more: Gov. Murphy Issues NJ Coronavirus Warning As State Backslides

The update comes as the number of cases has risen to 174,039, and 13,476 confirmed deaths. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Murphy said the dining reopening will work like this:

• Restaurant can open up dining spaces if they can open up two sides of their structures to the outside.
• If the restaurants can have 50 percent of their wallspace open to the outside, they can open up under their indoor roofs and overhangs "which is another step to hopefully help out our restaurants."

Watch Murphy here:

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