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April 20, 2020

Story by: Dennis Symons, Jr.

Protest Photos and Video by: Brian McCarthy OnScene News

Press conference, pool photos by: Kevin Sanders, New Jersey Globe

TRENTON, NJ (MERCER)–A small group of 7 people were in Trenton today near Governor Murphy’s Office and just down the street from the State House protesting the Governor’s Stay At Home Orders.

One woman yelled “Help Us!” as a man on a bull horn stated “Freedom loving slaves, yes, we are freedom loving slaves, we miss our freedom.”

Another man could be heard “Thank you for not wearing a mask. You don’t need a mask if you are 10 feet away”

The man on a bull horn was carrying a hand made sign that said, “Government IS the VIRUS Wake Up!” On the back of the sign from a different angle you could see: “Research Earth Is Flat” “How do YOU KNOW, YOU live on a spinning ball?” The sign is quite possibly a recycled old sign from a flat earth society protest in the past for people who believe the earth is flat.

The protest group had 7 members prior to Governor Murphy’s Daily Press Conference then dwindled to about 4 members when checking back at the location during the press confrnece.

The NJ Attorney General and the NJ State Police have been actively charging organizers of protests as the one in Trenton on Friday. This was reported by the NJ Attorney General on April 17, 2020

“Kim Pagan of Toms River was charged by the New Jersey State Police with violating the emergency orders by organizing a prohibited event today in Trenton in which protesters gathered outside the State House and at other locations in Trenton to demonstrate against the Governor’s Executive Orders.”

4/20/2020 Press Pool photos by: Kevin Sanders, New Jersey Globe

Governor Phil Murphy responding to some pressure and complaints to reopen the economy said at his daily press conference, “Reopening our economy today would backfire on us two-fold – a large spike in #COVID19 cases, and no customers at our stores because people are still fearful for their health and that of their kids and families.

This is a two-part scenario – securing the public health situation so you can have confidence as you get back as we reopen our economy.

Right now, that confidence does not exist.

In the coming days, I will announce the benchmarks we will need to see to reopen our state.

Do not think for one minute that we’re going to be able to flip a switch and return to life as we knew it. We will be careful and we will be strategic.

Our mission is to save lives.

It may be inconvenient for some, but your inconvenience pales in comparison to the 4,377 people who are now dead.

My job – our collective job – is to protect the 9 million residents of our state as best as possible. For that I will not apologize.

Personal health creates economic health. It can’t be the other way around. It has to happen in that order.”

4/20/2020 Press Pool photos by: Kevin Sanders, New Jersey Globe

4/20/2020 Press Pool photos by: Kevin Sanders, New Jersey Globe

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Ties Support for Airlines to Reimbursements to Customers

April 21, 2020

U.S. airline customers, whose travel and flight plans have been upended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will receive full-fare airline refunds—regardless of who initiated the cancelation—under a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) with lead cosponsor Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ). 

     “Many consumers have been left to fend for themselves as they try to get answers and their money back from air carriers and third-party travel services for trips they’ll never get to take,” said Smith, author of HR 6566, the Airline Travelers Equity Act of 2020. “These cancelations are born out of circumstances beyond a traveler’s control. Yet they have been flatly denied refunds or in some cases issued a credit to be used only within a required timeframe.

     “That’s unacceptable—people’s lives and plans have changed dramatically. The airlines—and third-party bookers—should be as understanding as the American taxpayers who are helping the airlines through our federal stimulus bill,” Smith said referencing the fact that the airlines are receiving billions in support from the U.S. taxpayer to help them through the economic impact of COVID-19.

      “In this time of financial uncertainty for so many Americans, airlines should not be forcing people to jump through hoops to get refunds for canceled trips,” Sires said. “I believe that this is a commonsense fix that will allow people to stay home without having to worry if they will get their money back.”

     The Smith-Sires bill mandates that any US air carrier or third-party travel service seeking a federal loan or grant under the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136) must provide refunds to individuals—whether the trip was canceled by the consumer or the air carrier—so long as the trip was to have been taken place during the covered coronavirus emergency period, defined in the bill as March 13, 2020 until 30 days after the national emergency declaration terminates.                  

     Current regulations require US carriers to provide a refund of fares paid by consumers when an airline cancels its flight. During this national crisis however, some flights continued even as travelers were advised to stay home or feared an inability to return due to domestic shelter-in-place policies and/or international lock downs. HR 6566 recognizes that regardless of the flight status, the COVID-19 public health emergency necessitated a change in plans. 

    In response to public outcry, on April 3, 2020 the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) issued a notice telling air carriers to advise passengers who were issued vouchers that they have the option to receive a refund. Unfortunately the problem remains, prompting some travelers to file lawsuits against certain air carriers refusing to provide a refund.

    “Tragically, thousands of people are now out of work and may need the money—their money—for items other than travel,” Smith said.  “Justice dictates that those companies receiving relief through the emergency coronavirus federal stimulus package, should be helpful and accommodating to their customers caught in the same crisis,” he said.

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April 19, 2020

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, Delaware Governor John Carney, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker today announced their appointees to the multi-state council to restore the economy and get people back to work. The appointees include one health expert, one economic development expert and the respective Chief of Staff from each state. The appointees from each state include:

New Jersey

• George Helmy, Chief of Staff to the Governor
• Dr. Richard Besser, President and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Jeh Johnson, Former United States Secretary of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama

New York

• Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor
• Robert Mujica, Director of NYS Division of the Budget
• Michael Dowling, President and CEO, Northwell Health  

Connecticut

• Indra Nooyi, Co-chair of the nonprofit organization AdvanceCT and former chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
• Dr. Albert Ko, Professor of Epidemiology and Medicine and department chair at the Yale School of Public Health
• Paul Mounds, Jr., Chief of Staff in the Office of the Governor

Pennsylvania

• Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine, Department of Health
• Secretary Dennis Davin, Department of Community and Economic Development
• Michael Brunelle, COS, Office of the Governor

Delaware

• Sheila Grant, Chief of Staff, Office of Governor John Carney
• Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
• Kurt Foreman, President and CEO, Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Rhode Island

• Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health
• Stefan Pryor, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary
• David Ortiz, Chief of Staff to the Governor

Massachusetts

• Kristen Lepore, Chief of Staff
• Michael Kennealy, Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
• Lauren Peters, Undersecretary at the Executive Office of Health and Human Services

Governor Murphy said, “No one has given more thought or is more eager to restart our economy than I am, but if we don’t get the sequencing right, we put more lives at risk. The only path to a sustainable economic recovery is through a strong healthcare recovery. Then, and only then, do we position ourselves to fully ignite our economy and get the residents of our state back to work while minimizing the danger of this disease. A coordinated, regional approach, informed by a multi-state council of experts, will help us avoid a major setback with potentially disastrous consequences. I look forward to the day when the facts on the ground allow us to ease our restrictions and move our regional economy forward.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “We have been collaborating closely with our neighboring states to combat this pandemic through a uniform approach to social distancing and density reduction and it has been working well. Now it is time to start opening the valve slowly and carefully while watching the infection rate meter so we don’t trigger a second wave of new infections. This is not a light switch that we can just flick on and everything goes back to normal – we have to come up with a smart, consistent strategy to restart the systems we shut down and get people back to work, and to the extent possible we want to do that through a regional approach because we are a regional economy. New York is partnering with these five states to create a multi-state council that will come up with a framework based on science and data to gradually ease the stay at home restrictions and get our economy back up and running.”

Governor Ned Lamont said, “One thing that’s undeniable is that this virus does not stop at the border of any county, state, or country, but the impact is the same when it comes to our respective economies and healthcare systems. Working as a regional coalition to make the right decisions will lead to the best public health results for all of our residents. We must solve these problems together.”

Governor Tom Wolf said, “Our highest priority remains protecting the health and safety of Pennsylvanians. While my administration continues to take critical steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, I also recognize that we must look ahead and take a measured, careful approach to prepare for the future while ensuring that we don’t undo all of our efforts. Pennsylvania will work collaboratively with our partners both in state and in surrounding states to develop a comprehensive strategy that first focuses on health but also addresses the need to gradually restore our economy.” 

Governor John Carney said, “We still have a situation in Delaware that is getting worse. Infections of COVID-19 and hospitalizations are rising. Delawareans should stay home. Don’t go out in public unnecessarily. Don’t visit Delaware unless you need to see a doctor, or care for a family member. You’ll only increase everyone’s risk. At the same time, we need to look forward. We need a consistent approach for moving our states out of this crisis, when that day comes. I’m grateful for the partnership of my fellow Governors in the region. They are all working around-the-clock to prevent surges in COVID-19 cases, protect hospital capacity for the most critically-ill patients, and save lives. We’ll get through this by working together.” 

Governor Gina Raimondo said, “States are taking the lead as we fight to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives. I’m proud of the steps we’ve taken, and I’m constantly thinking about what it will take to safely reopen our economy. But we know that this virus does not recognize borders, and it’s clear we need a strong, coordinated regional approach to avoid a second wave of this disease. I’m grateful to my fellow governors for their leadership during this crisis and I’m confident that this new partnership will support our efforts to get Rhode Islanders — and all Americans — back to work safely.”

Governor Charlie Baker said, “The Baker-Polito Administration looks forward to participating in discussions with neighboring states and experts regarding the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Massachusetts also remains focused on efforts to expand testing, ensure hospital capacity and provide the necessary PPE to those on the front lines to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy speaks about a chart showing total individuals in ICU/CCU during his Saturday, April 18, 2020, press conference at War Memorial in Trenton, NJ, on the State’s response to the coronavirus.

Tuesday April 14, 2020 – Governor Phil Murphy holds his coronavirus briefing in the George Washington Ballroom in the Trenton War Memorial, with, Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, State Epidemiologist Dr. Christina Tan, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan. (Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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April 20, 2020

TRENTON – First Lady Tammy Murphy will host a Facebook Live interview, tomorrow, April 21, at 3:30 pm., with Dr. Lisa Gittens-Williams to share information for women navigating pregnancy during the COVID-19 global pandemic. “Ask an OBGYN,” which will be livestreamed from the First Lady’s Facebook page, will offer guidance on how a mother can prevent contracting COVID-19, obtain prenatal care, have a safe and healthy delivery, and manage COVID-19 during and after pregnancy. The interview will address the current maternal and infant health crisis in New Jersey and the health disparities that continue to be exacerbated by the COVID-19 outbreak. The interview is part of Nurture NJ, the First Lady’s statewide awareness campaign to combat the maternal and infant health crisis in New Jersey. Currently, New Jersey ranks 47^th in the nation for maternal deaths.“The COVID-19 global pandemic adds significant risks and challenges to combatting the black maternal and infant health crisis in New Jersey,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “The COVID-19 crisis is exacerbating our health disparities, proving we must continue our work to improve the health of our mothers and babies. This interview with Dr. Gittens-Williams will offer guidance and share information to better prepare expectant mothers to protect themselves and their babies throughout pregnancy, delivery, and after they bring their little one home.”
“Pregnancy and a newborn baby are enough to keep you up at night. Pregnant women and their families deserve help navigating the landscape of COVID-19,” said Dr. Lisa Gittens-Williams. “As women meet health care providers, who are wearing masks and face shields, they need to know that they are still being seen through the lens of health equity.”Dr. Lisa Gittens-Williams is a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at Rutgers NJ Medical School. She is a Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist and is the Director of Obstetrics at University Hospital, Newark, NJ.  She serves as the chair of Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Committee for ACOG (American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology) District III.In New Jersey, a black woman is five times more likely than a white woman to die of pregnancy-related complications and a black baby is three times more likely than a white baby to die before his or her first birthday. This is one of the widest racial disparities in the nation.Nurture NJ, which is devoted to serving every mother, every baby, and every family in New Jersey, includes a multi-pronged, multi-agency approach to improve maternal and infant health. The campaign focuses on improving collaboration and programming between departments, agencies, and stakeholders to achieve its goal of making New Jersey the safest place in the country to give birth and raise a baby. Nurture NJ initiatives include an annual Black Maternal and Infant Health Leadership Summit; the First Lady’s Family Festival event series; quarterly interdepartmental maternal and infant health meetings; and a comprehensive, statewide strategic plan to reduce maternal mortality by 50 percent over five years and eliminate racial disparities in birth outcomes.Learn more about Nurture NJ at nj.gov/NurtureNJ.Follow First Lady Tammy Murphy on Twitter (@FirstLadyNJ), Facebook (@FirstLadyNJ), and Instagram (@FirstLadyNewJersey).

Monday April 13, 2020 – Governor Phil Murphy holds his coronavirus briefing in the George Washington Ballroom in the Trenton War Memorial, with Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, Department of Health Communicable Disease Service Medical Director Dr. Edward Lifshitz, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan (Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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April 13, 2020

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 126, prohibiting cable and telecommunications providers from terminating Internet and voice service due to nonpayment until 30 days after the current public health emergency has ended. The order also mandates that all service downgrades, service reductions, or late fees due to nonpayment are prohibited unless they are imposed in accordance with a policy approved by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. Additionally, any Internet or voice service that was disconnected after March 16 due to nonpayment must be reconnected.“Most of our service providers voluntarily took these steps, in accordance with FCC policy, to protect their customers during this difficult time, and we are grateful for their partnership,” said Governor Murphy. “However, these policies have been implemented inconsistently among companies, so today we are prohibiting the termination of Internet and voice services due to nonpayment during this time. Our children need Internet access for remote learning, our workforce needs the resources to telework, and families need to be able to keep each other informed. It is critical for our New Jersey residents to maintain these connections and not have their ability to communicate with the outside world severed.”“Thank you, Governor Murphy for issuing this order to ensure that residents will have access to internet and phone service during this crisis,” said Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President of the Board of Public Utilities. “I would like to again thank all of the electric and gas utilities and our water companies for their continued cooperation in voluntarily suspending all shut-offs and trying to help folks get through this very difficult situation. It is important that we all work together in a spirit of good citizenship during this unusual time.”Governor Murphy’s executive order directs the following:

• No cable or telecommunications provider that provides residential internet and voice services to New Jersey residents shall terminate such internet and voice service due to nonpayment as long as this Order remains in effect. 

• A cable or telecommunications provider that provides residential internet and voice services to New Jersey residents may downgrade or otherwise reduce the quality of residential internet or voice services provided due to nonpayment only if acting pursuant to a policy approved in writing by the Board of Public Utilities as long as this Order remains in effect. 

• A cable or telecommunications provider that provides residential internet and voice services to New Jersey residents may collect 1) a fee or charge imposed for late or otherwise untimely payments that become due from the date of this Order for residential internet or 2) a fee or charge imposed for voice service reconnections, other than what is described below, only if acting pursuant to a policy approved in writing by the Board of Public Utilities as long as this Order remains in effect. 

• Any cable or telecommunications provider that provides residential internet and voice services to New Jersey residents shall, upon request of the customer, and at no cost to the customer beyond any actual costs incurred by the provider in reconnecting the service, reconnect any residential internet or voice service that was discontinued due to nonpayment after March 16, 2020, including where the disconnection was for unpaid bills incurred prior to March 16, 2020. 

The order will take effect immediately and remain in effect until 30 days following the end of the public health emergency.For a copy of Executive Order No. 126, click here.

Monday April 13, 2020 – Governor Phil Murphy holds his coronavirus briefing in the George Washington Ballroom in the Trenton War Memorial, with Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, Department of Health Communicable Disease Service Medical Director Dr. Edward Lifshitz, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan (Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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April 14, 2020

TRENTON — Governor Phil Murphy today signed legislation (S2374), which expands protections of the Family Leave Act to allow employees forced to take time off to care for a family member during the COVID-19 outbreak with up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave in a 24-month period without losing their jobs.Under the bill, employees will be eligible for leave to care for a family member as a result of an epidemic of a communicable disease, or efforts to prevent spread of a communicable disease. These job protections will extend to employees requiring leave to provide care or treatment for their child if the child’s school or place of care is closed in response to a public health emergency.“New Jerseyans should not have to make a decision between caring for a loved one with COVID-19 and keeping their job,” said Governor Murphy. “Our state is already home to the nation’s most comprehensive Family Leave Act, and it’s only right that we expand these protections to meet the unprecedented health crisis we are facing.”“This public health crisis is putting enormous strains on families, especially those that need to care for a loved one who is infected,” said Senate President Sweeney, who authored the original family leave law. “They should not be forced to choose between an ill family member and their job. While we are experiencing emergency circumstances that could not have been anticipated, this is what the law should be covering.”
“Workers throughout the state with ill family members at home in need of care, or who have children at home because of school closures, are struggling to balance the responsibilities of their personal and professional lives,” said Senator Linda Greenstein. “Family always comes first, and the benefits of our family leave law should be afforded to those who have had no choice but to stay home to care for their families.”In a joint statement, Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker, Assemblyman Joseph Egan and Assemblywoman Linda Carter said: “Countless New Jersey residents have needed to take time off from work to care for family members due to the health crisis created by the spread of COVID-19, and many more will need to do so in the future. There’s never been a more important time to strengthen our family leave program.  “In a time of growing uncertainty, every worker deserves to know they won’t lose their job if they use family leave. This law also expands family leave for parents of school aged children who need to take time off due to school closures during this crisis. “New Jersey has one of the most robust family leave laws in the nation. Today we make our program stronger to address the challenging times we are in.”

Tuesday April 14, 2020 – Governor Phil Murphy holds his coronavirus briefing in the George Washington Ballroom in the Trenton War Memorial, with, Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli, State Epidemiologist Dr. Christina Tan, and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan. (Pool photo by Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

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April 9, 2020

PRELIMINARY REPORT–WILL HAVE AN UPDATE WHEN INFORMATION IS RELEASED. REPORTS FROM RADIO TRAFFIC AND FROM THE SCENE

By: Dennis Symons, Jr.

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP, NJ (MERCER)–The dispatch center was receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls for a house fire in the 200 Block of Norway Avenue after 11 pm. tonight when the Hamilton Township Fire Department was notified of the fire.

National Weather Service had winds around 20 mph with gusts to 43 miles per hour at Trenton. Smoke could be seen as far as 8 miles away as wind fanned the flames on the 2nd story of the home.

Hamilton Township Fire firefighters quickly arrived on scene and found the second floor heavily involved in fire. Multiple hand lines were advanced and firefighters battled heavy fire conditions to bring the fire quickly under control.

The Red Cross is responding to help find temporary housing for 7 occupants of the home. PSE&G responded to cut power and gas to the structure. The fire is currently under investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office. Firefighters and investigators were still on scene at the time of this report.

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March 30, 2020

COOKIES FOR THE CARING

Girl Scout Troop #71147

During this tough time there are many on the front line caring for us all!

We would like to give back to those people.

A donation of $5 will send a box of cookies to a local hospital.

There are many ways that you can do this!

Through paypal [email protected]

(Please send it through the friend/family option so there is no extra charge)

Drop off box on the porch or by mailing to:

259 Route 539

Cream Ridge, NJ 08514

Receipt available by request

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April 17, 2020

UPDATE HERE

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on April 16, 2020, Lakewood Township Police were summoned to a residence on Central Avenue to perform a wellness check. Responding Officers found two individuals – an eighty six year-old female and a fifty one year-old male, both were deceased.

An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Lakewood Township Police Department and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit is currently underway. “At this time, the information available to us indicates that both of the decedents have extensive medical histories. A post mortem examination of both decedents will be performed today. We will release their identities hopefully later today as soon as we have confirmation regarding family notification,” Prosecutor Billhimer stated.

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April 8, 2020

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy today signed Executive Order No. 122, ceasing all non-essential construction projects and imposing additional mitigation requirements on essential retail businesses and essential industries to limit the spread of COVID-19 in New Jersey. The order also outlines specific protections and policies for all essential retail, manufacturing, and warehousing businesses, as well as businesses engaged in essential construction projects.“We must continue to work together to flatten the curve of new COVID-19 cases in New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “By ceasing all non-essential construction projects and imposing additional mitigation requirements on essential businesses, we are furthering our aggressive efforts to enforce social distancing and limiting our public interactions to only the most essential in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19.”Governor Murphy’s executive order directs the following:
1. Essential retail businesses that are still permitted to operate under Executive Order No. 107 (2020) must adopt the following policies:

• Limit occupancy at 50 percent of the stated maximum store capacity, if applicable, at one time;
• Establish hours of operation, wherever possible, that permit access solely to high-risk individuals, as defined by the CDC;
• Install a physical barrier, such as a shield guard, between customers and cashiers/baggers wherever feasible or otherwise ensure six feet of distance between those individuals, except at the moment of payment and/or exchange of goods;
• Require infection control practices, such as regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal;
• Provide employees break time for repeated handwashing throughout the workday; 
• Arrange for contactless pay options, pickup, and/or delivery of goods wherever feasible.  Such policies shall, wherever possible, consider populations that do not have access to internet service;
• Provide sanitization materials, such as hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, to staff and customers;
• Require frequent sanitization of high-touch areas like restrooms, credit card machines, keypads, counters and shopping carts;
• Place conspicuous signage at entrances and throughout the store, if applicable, alerting staff and customers to the required six feet of physical distance;
• Demarcate six feet of spacing in check-out lines to demonstrate appropriate spacing for social distancing;
• Require workers and customers to wear cloth face coverings while on the premises, except where doing so would inhibit that individual’s health or where the individual is under two years of age, and require workers to wear gloves when in contact with customers or goods. Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings and gloves for their employees. If a customer refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons and if such covering cannot be provided to the individual by the business at the point of entry, then the business must decline entry to the individual, unless if the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business policy should provide alternate methods of pickup and/or delivery of such goods. Nothing in the stated policy should prevent workers or customers from wearing a surgical-grade mask or other more protective face covering if the individual is already in possession of such equipment, or if the business is otherwise required to provide such worker with more protective equipment due to the nature of the work involved.  Where an individual declines to wear a face covering on store premises due to a medical condition that inhibits such usage, neither the essential retail business nor its staff shall require the individual to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition. 

2. The physical operations of all non-essential construction projects shall cease at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10. “Essential construction projects” include the following:

• Projects necessary for the delivery of health care services, including but not limited to hospitals, other health care facilities, and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.
• Transportation projects, including roads, bridges, and mass transit facilities or physical infrastructure, including work done at airports or seaports.
• Utility projects, including those necessary for energy and electricity production and transmission, and any decommissioning of facilities used for electricity generation.
• Residential projects that are exclusively designated as affordable housing.
• Projects involving pre-K-12 schools, including but not limited to projects in Schools Development Authority districts, and projects involving higher education facilities.
• Projects already underway involving individual single-family homes, or an individual apartment unit where an individual already resides, with a construction crew of 5 or fewer individuals.  This includes additions to single-family homes such as solar panels.
• Projects already underway involving a residential unit for which a tenant or buyer has already entered into a legally binding agreement to occupy the unit by a certain date, and construction is necessary to ensure the unit’s availability by that date.
• Projects involving facilities at which any one or more of the following takes place: the manufacture, distribution, storage, or servicing of goods or products that are sold by online retail businesses or essential retail businesses, as defined by Executive Order No. 107 (2020) and subsequent Administrative Orders adopted pursuant to that Order.
• Projects involving data centers or facilities that are critical to a business’s ability to function.
• Projects necessary for the delivery of essential social services, including homeless shelters.
• Any project necessary to support law enforcement agencies or first responder units in their response to the COVID-19 emergency.
• Any project that is ordered or contracted for by Federal, State, county, or municipal government, or any project that must be completed to meet a deadline established by the Federal government.
• Any work on a non-essential construction project that is required to physically secure the site of the project, ensure the structural integrity of any buildings on the site, abate any hazards that would exist on the site if the construction were to remain in its current condition, remediate a site, or otherwise ensure that the site and any buildings therein are appropriately protected and safe during the suspension of the project.
• Any emergency repairs necessary to ensure the health and safety of residents.

3. Manufacturing businesses, warehousing businesses, and businesses engaged in essential construction projects must adopt policies that include, at minimum, the following requirements:

• Prohibit non-essential visitors from entering the worksite;
• Limit worksite meetings, inductions, and workgroups to groups of fewer than ten individuals;
• Require individuals to maintain six feet or more distance between them wherever possible;
• Stagger work start and stop times where practicable to limit the number of individuals entering and leaving the worksite concurrently;
• Stagger lunch breaks and work times where practicable to enable operations to safely continue while utilizing the least number of individuals possible at the site;
• Restrict the number of individuals who can access common areas, such as restrooms and breakrooms, concurrently;
• Require workers and visitors to wear cloth face coverings, in accordance with CDC recommendations, while on the premises, except where doing so would inhibit the individual’s health or the individual is under two years of age, and require workers to wear gloves while on the premises.  Businesses must provide, at their expense, such face coverings and gloves for their employees.  If a visitor refuses to wear a cloth face covering for non-medical reasons and if such covering cannot be provided to the individual by the business at the point of entry, then businesses must decline entry to the individual.  Nothing in the stated policy should prevent workers or visitors from wearing a surgical-grade mask or other more protective face covering if the individual is already in possession of such equipment, or if the businesses is otherwise required to provide such worker with more protective equipment due to the nature of the work involved.  Where an individual declines to wear a face covering on the premises due to a medical condition that inhibits such usage, neither the business nor its staff shall require the individual to produce medical documentation verifying the stated condition.
• Require infection control practices, such as regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal;
• Limit sharing of tools, equipment, and machinery;
• Provide sanitization materials, such as hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes, to workers and visitors; and
• Require frequent sanitization of high-touch areas like restrooms, breakrooms, equipment, and machinery.

4. All essential retail businesses, warehousing businesses, manufacturing businesses, and businesses performing essential construction projects must also adopt policies that include, at minimum, the following requirements:

• Immediately separate and send home workers who appear to have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 illness upon arrival at work or who become sick during the day; and
• Promptly notify workers of any known exposure to COVID-19 at the worksite, consistent with the confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and any other applicable laws;
• Clean and disinfect the worksite in accordance with CDC guidelines when a worker at the site has been diagnosed with COVID-19 illness;
• Continue to follow guidelines and directives issued by the New Jersey Department of Health, the CDC and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, as applicable, for maintaining a clean, safe and healthy work environment. 

5. Where a business is authorized to maintain in-person operations, owners of buildings used for commercial, industrial or other enterprises, including but not limited to facilities for warehousing, manufacturing, commercial offices, airports, grocery stores, universities, colleges, government, hotels, and residential buildings with at least 50 units, shall adopt policies that, at minimum, implement the following cleaning protocols in areas where operations are conducted:

• Clean and disinfect high-touch areas routinely in accordance with CDC guidelines, particularly in spaces that are accessible to staff, customers, tenants, or other individuals, and ensure cleaning procedures following a known or potential exposure in a facility are in compliance with CDC recommendations;
• Otherwise maintain cleaning procedures in all other areas of the facility; and
• Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of workers to perform the above protocols effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of occupants, visitors, and workers.

The order will take effect on Friday, April 10, at 8:00 p.m.For a copy of Executive Order No. 122, click here.

Governor Murphy toured the new field medical station at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center in Edison this morning, where our frontline heroes are assembling 500 hospital beds.
Their work and these beds will save lives. We cannot thank them enough. Photo provided by Governor’s Office