June 1, 2020
On June 15th, New Jersey will begin to enter Phase 2 of reopening; this will include the following:
- Outdoor dining
- In-store retail for non-essential businesses with limited capacity
- Personal care businesses - barbers, hair salons, nail salons, etc.
- Gyms and health clubs
- Re-opening of the DMV
Outdoor dining and in-person retail shopping will be allowed starting June 15, while personal care businesses such as barbershops and hair salons will be able to open a week later, Governor Murphy announced today. Youth summer programs will also be permitted to start on July 6 during what Murphy calls Stage 2 of New Jersey’s road back from the COVID-19 pandemic. In the period to follow, New Jersey will work toward the gradual opening of personal care, gyms, and health clubs, at reduced capacities as the stage progresses. All of these activities will be allowed pursuant to strict health and safety guidelines that will be issued in the coming days.
Township officials and our public safety officials are working with the Recreation Department, Board of Education and local businesses to determine next steps for the above programs. We will provide programming details to our residents as soon as we have more clear guidance from the state and know exactly what we have to do to get these businesses and activities off the ground again.
In Other News...
- A new small business grant program will make available $45 million to businesses with up to 25 employees; up to $10,000 for each eligible business; more business types will be eligible in this round.
- Child Daycare Guidelines - When child daycare centers in New Jersey reopen on June 15, they’ll be required to conduct temperature checks on both kids and staff, and limit class sizes. Children will be encouraged - though not required - to wear masks. Here are the new guidelines. (nj.com)
- The CDC recently issued recommendations for employers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus when they reopen their offices. Among them: temperature and symptom checks for employees; place desks six feet apart or consider erecting plastic shields; remove seats in common areas; and wear face coverings at all times.
- Six Flags Safari Adventure has reopened. And you can drive your own car through the Safari, like guests used to before vehicles were phased out in 2012. (nj.com)
- Berkeley Heights Businesses: Tell the State What You Think - The state is requesting your input to better understand how to help businesses get back to work safely and productively. By filling out this online survey, you will help guide the state’s reopening strategy and upcoming business assistance opportunities.
By the Numbers
- NJ - 509 new cases (from previous day); 160,918
- NJ - 27 new deaths; 11,721 total
- Union County - 23 new cases; 15,858 total cases
- Union County - 1 new deaths; 1,074 total
- Berkeley Heights - no new cases since Tuesday, May 26.
- 63 active cases; 62 of which are from long-term care facilities (LTCs)
- 187 closed cases (48 from LTCs & recovered, 52 LTC deaths, 4 community deaths
- Total of 250 cases
Hospitalizations
- 2,344 people are hospitalized
- 646 are in critical condition
- 469 are on ventilators
- 36 people were admitted
- 160 people were discharged
May 31, 2020
Following Governor Murphy’s signing of Executive Order No. 149, which will reopen childcare centers in the State of New Jersey beginning June 15, the New Jersey Department of Children and Families released specific operating guidance for centers in order to preserve the health and safety of children, staff and the families being served.
Over the weekend, Murphy also signed Executive Order No. 149, allowing the resumption of child care services, youth day camps, and organized sports. This Order rescinds the emergency child care program under Executive Order No. 110 as of June 15, and permits child care centers to resume normal operations on or after June 15, subject to their compliance with COVID-19-specific health and safety standards. Additionally, youth day camps can open on or after July 6, and must comply with COVID-19-specific health and safety standards.
After hearing of Murphy’s announcement Friday on camps and youth sports, Berkeley Heights Township is working with the Recreation Department, Recreation Commission, BH Police Athletic League (BHPAL), BH Youth Soccer Club, (BHYSC) and Berkeley Heights Board of Education on programming for the next few months.
The Township is also in discussion with our Office of Emergency Management, Police Department, Rescue Squad, and Department of Public Works on how to safely open up these locations for this programming in the near future.
“We want to ensure that as things open up, we do it safely and in the best interest of our residents,” said Mayor Angie Devanney. “There is nothing more important than the well-being of our community. We understand people are anxious to prepare to play organized sports; please help us by abiding by the rules and being safe, so we can continue to open up more activities and programming.”
Please remember that no matter what activity our residents are participating in, they must adhere to the 6-foot social distancing rule, unless you are with family members, members of your household, or romantic partners. Please bring hand sanitizer with you at all times and sanitize frequently when hand washing isn’t possible. And if you are engaging in an activity in which social distancing is not possible, masks are encouraged. Parents, we are relying on you to convey these important messages to your children. Thank you all, for your cooperation!
In other news:
- The state announced the immediate availability of up to $20 million in grants to assist child care centers and youth camps in meeting health and safety guidelines in response to COVID-19. Child care centers can receive up to $5,000, while youth camps can receive up to $2,000.
- New Chapter for Health Care is Emerging - Hospitals around the state are pivoting to a "new normal." They are implementing new protocols and physical renovations as
they transition to again care for non-COVID-19 patients while preparing for the prospect of a virus resurgence in the fall. (nj.com) - Deadline Extended For Property Tax Appeals - The deadline to file a property tax appeal has been temporarily extended to July 1, 2020, and the deadline for county boards of taxation to render decisions in tax appeal cases has been temporarily extended to Sept. 30, 2020, under legislation (A4157) signed by Gov. Murphy. The bill takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to April 1, 2020.
- Buy From New Jersey Businesses - To promote the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Buy NJ’ campaign, put this ’postcard’ on your website and share it on social media with the hashtags #BuyNJ and #BuyLocalNJ.
- Tell the State What You Think - The state is requesting your input to better understand how to help businesses get back to work safely and productively. By filling out this online survey, you will help guide the state’s reopening strategy and upcoming business assistance opportunities.
By the Numbers
- NJ - 1,261 new cases (from previous day); 157,815
- NJ - 66 new deaths; 11,401 total
- Union County - 61 new cases; 15,475 total cases
- Union County - 5 new deaths; 1,047 total
- Berkeley Heights - no new cases since Tuesday, May 26.
- 63 active cases; 62 of which are from long-term care facilities (LTCs)
- 187 closed cases (48 from LTCs & recovered, 52 LTC deaths, 4 community deaths
- Total of 250 cases
Hospitalizations
- 2,797 people hospitalized
- 740 in critical condition
- 564 people on vents
- 365 new admissions
- 287 discharges