Since things have unfolded in New Jersey due to COVID-19, there have been many closings to help with social distancing efforts — including parks, schools, fitness studios, daycares, and more. But one thing hasn’t halted as of the last four weeks: construction. That’s all about to change though. Just this Wednesday, April 8th, Governor Murphy has signed an Executive Order to cease all non-essential construction across New Jersey, effective 8:00PM on Friday — as well as some other requirements, including masks for all who are at essential businesses throughout the state of New Jersey.
BREAKING: I’m signing an Executive Order to further our aggressive efforts to enforce social distancing.
All non-essential construction across New Jersey will CEASE, indefinitely, effective 8:00 PM Friday.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 8, 2020
He goes on to share exceptions, which include hospitals, schools, transportation, and other public utility sectors — as well as some updates to grocery store and essential business regulations.
Read More: Latest Jersey City + Hoboken COVID-19 Updates as of April 8, 2020 | Daily
“Under this Executive Order, all essential retail must indefinitely limit the number of customers allowed in their stores to NO MORE than 50% of their approved capacity,” he tweeted on Wednesday.
“Additionally, customers & employees must wear face coverings. Stores must also provide special shopping hours for high-risk individuals, erect physical barriers between customers and cashiers and baggers where practicable, regularly sanitize areas used by their employees, & more.”
In Hoboken, this was already announced as the order on Saturday, but now it is a statewide requirement by Executive Order.
Governor Murphy’s new Executive Order goes into place after New Jersey had shut down all state parks on Tuesday and following the statewide decision to move the NJ primary election, originally scheduled for June 2nd, to July 7th.
“We need 100% compliance,” Murphy said to US News. “We understand that staying at home is hard — you need to get fresh air, but you need to stay at home.”
See More: 14 Headlines You Missed in Hoboken + Jersey City This Week
Schools are also closed indefinitely and standardized testing requirements for students are waived for the 2019-2020 school year.
In total as it stands, the death toll from COVID-19 climbed to 3.2% of those testing positive across the state of NJ — with over 47,000 testing positive in our state. In Hudson County, the death toll is 2.2%, with the current number of cases at 5437, with 122 deaths.
On the positive side, 36 people diagnosed in Hoboken have recovered, with just over 200 positive COVID-19 cases reported. In Jersey City, stats are more grim — with 1,970 cases and a total of 54 deaths. And for the latest statewide information, check the State of NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Dashboard.
As more statewide + citywide information becomes available on this everchanging COVID-19 related story, we’ll keep you updated. Click here for the latest in Hoboken + Jersey City on COVID-19, as we update this article nightly.
Got a news tip? Let us know — email us at hello@hobokengirl.com! We appreciate it.
Did you know: We started a podcast about all things news and lifestyle in Hoboken + Jersey City!
Listen to the latest episode of Tea on the Hudson here and subscribe.
