Murphy Issues Warning After 5 Jersey Shore Bars Break COVID Rules

JERSEY SHORE, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy has called out another Jersey Shore bar for breaking coronavirus orders. That's five now that have run into trouble within just the past week, and Murphy says he's ready to shut them down if they don't comply with health rules.

The Headliner in Neptune became the latest target of Murphy's ire for allegedly violating social distancing guidelines and not following other safety protocols.

"We will not hesitate to take action against those who think they can revert back to bad practices after a week or two," Murphy said.

During his Monday news conference, Murphy showed a picture of a line at the Headliner "with zero masks, as far as we can tell, and equally lax social distancing.

"Anyone here could have spread the virus before they even set foot in the bar," Murphy said. "This has got to stop."

On Sunday, North Wildwood police investigated Flip Flopz bar for being in violation of the governor's executive orders, police said. Read more: 4th Jersey Shore Bar Breaks Coronavirus Order Within Week: Police

Murphy said the overwhelming number of establishments and customers have been doing the right thing. But these efforts, he said, "have to be maintained for the weeks to come, and they shouldn't have to come because we call people out for failing to do the right things."

"It's the knuckleheads who think the rules don't apply to them or who think this pandemic isn't serious, or it's over, and who ruin it for the rest of us," Murphy said.

Last week, Murphy warned he was ready to shut down three bars and clubs if patrons didn't engage in social distancing.

During a news conference last week, Murphy called out patrons at Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant Beach, D'Jais in Belmar and Donovan's Reef in Sea Bright after they were seen not social distancing in photos. Read more: Gov. Murphy: Jenkinson's Will 'Shut' If Patrons Don't Behave

During his Monday news conference, however, Murphy, made a point of complimenting Jenkinson's in Point Pleasant Beach and D'Jais in Belmar as well as Bar Anticipation in Lake Como for sticking with the coronavirus rules this past weekend.

"I want to acknowledge the enhanced compliance we saw this weekend at numerous outdoor Jersey Shore outdoor bars and clubs to ensure proper social distancing — not just among patrons, but those waiting to get in," Murphy said.

Murphy said the difference between last week and this week "was more than noticeable."

"So I have to give management and patrons a big 'thank-you,' " Murphy said.

Murphy said he knows this problem "isn't fixed and even wearing masks, social distancing, which is still the order of the day, wasn't universal," even at the bars he complimented.

"Obviously, more bars are trying to do the right thing, but equally as obvious, we all need to redouble our efforts," he said.

Murphy noted that "there are few more weeks — thank God — in the summer."