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NJ Gyms Can Reopen Tuesday: Here Are The Rules NJ Gyms Can Reopen Tuesday: Here Are The Rules
NJ Gyms Can Reopen Tuesday: Here Are The Rules New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday that gyms can reopen Tuesday -- will you go? (Vote below, new rules listed below poll). A new set of extensive rules say the facilities must operate at 25 percent of indoor capacity, and will go into effect Sept. 1. Face masks will be required for all gym goers including employees, staff and trainers at all times. Fitness classes will be limited to one customer per every 200-square-foot of class space. This rule also applies to activities like yoga and pilates. Logs of when all members are in the facility must be kept so should someone test p…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
What You Need To Know: NJ Releases New School Guidelines What You Need To Know: NJ Releases New School Guidelines
What You Need To Know: NJ Releases New School Guidelines New Jersey education officials on Thursday released a new set of guidelines for schools reopening for in-classroom learning for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic closed them in March. The 19-page document divides the districts into six regions, lays out hygiene requirements, social-distancing/face mask wearing procedures, and details closing procedures in the event of new outbreaks among students and teachers. ** ALSO SEE: Murphy Announces Remote Reopening Rules For NJ Schools ** If one or two teachers or students are diagnosed with COVID-19 in the same classroom, anyone…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Massive Weekend Pool Parties At Alpine Mansion Draw Authorities' Attention Massive Weekend Pool Parties At Alpine Mansion Draw Authorities' Attention
Massive Weekend Pool Parties At Alpine Mansion Draw Authorities' Attention UPDATE: Party-goers packed a Vegas-like backyard bash that spilled into the street at a posh Bergen County mansion this past weekend, bringing police, an ambulance – and, now, scrutiny from the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.  The coronavirus pandemic was spreading when promoters two months ago made the Hemlock Drive home, in what’s considered New Jersey’s most exclusive zip code, “a nightclub being operated from the backyard,” one neighbor told NBC New York. Video posted by the promoter and attendees shows hundreds of party-goers crammed into this weekend's backyard pool party, near…

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by Jerry DeMarco
News
ROOM AT THE TOP: Empire State Building Observatory Reopens With Clear Views ROOM AT THE TOP: Empire State Building Observatory Reopens With Clear Views
Room AT THE TOP: Empire State Building Observatory Reopens With Clear Views If you ever wanted to catch unobstructed views from the observatory at the Empire State Building, you can start this Monday. Thank social distancing. There will be no out-of-towners hogging the sightlines for what will be a limited number attendees at a time when the observatory opens at the “World's Most Famous Building.” Reservations will be online-only and scheduled for specific time periods. Only 500 guests at a time will be allowed in the 70,000-square-foot space – barely a fifth of the usual amount and well below New York State's Phase 4 capacity guideline of 25%. That allows fo…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Schools
Bug Off! Flying Pests Sting South Jersey Graduation Bug Off! Flying Pests Sting South Jersey Graduation
Bug Off! Flying Pests Sting South Jersey Graduation First, it was the coronavirus outbreak that delayed graduation ceremonies at a South Jersey school and just about everywhere else statewide. Then, a second natural disaster tangled with one school's graduation plans: A swarm of insects, Burlington County officials said. There was an 11th-hour surprise: A sudden swarm of unidentified bugs threatened Lumberton Middle School's class of 130 students from walking across a stage to get their diploma on Wednesday. The school district’s pest managers warned it could take 72 hours to eliminate the pesky swarm. A strategic switch led to a happy bug…

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by Jon Craig
News
Face Coverings Outside Will Be Mandatory In NJ When Social Distancing Is Not Possible Face Coverings Outside Will Be Mandatory In NJ When Social Distancing Is Not Possible
Face Coverings Outside Will Be Mandatory In NJ When Social Distancing Is Not Possible Can't social distance outside? Wear your face mask, said Gov. Phil Murphy, who will be signing an executive order Wednesday mandating the practice. The governor made the announcement on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "There’s no question that face coverings are game-changers," Murphy said. "I think we were the first state in America to require them indoors.  "They’ve been strongly recommended out-of-doors. We’re gonna turn that up a notch today and say, We’re gonna ask you: If you can’t socially distance, it’s gonna be required." The move comes days after the transmission rate climbed over 1…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
Here Are The Rules: NJ Schools To Reopen With Social Distancing, Face Masks Here Are The Rules: NJ Schools To Reopen With Social Distancing, Face Masks
Here Are The Rules: NJ Schools To Reopen With Social Distancing, Face Masks Going back to school in September will look much different for New Jersey students, who have been remotely learning since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic mid-March. The New Jersey Department of Education on Friday released guidance for reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year. The guidelines strongly encourage face masks for students, who are required to stay six feet apart in classrooms and buses. Lunch times will be staggered and teachers are required to wear face masks. The guidelines are part of the state's "Road Back" restart and recovery plan, and were compiled…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
NJ Playgrounds, Amusement Parks Can Reopen July 2 NJ Playgrounds, Amusement Parks Can Reopen July 2
NJ Playgrounds, Amusement Parks Can Reopen July 2 Outdoor amusement parks, waterparks and playgrounds can reopen with limitations Thursday July 2, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday, adding New Jersey has reached the latter portion of Stage 2 of reopening. The amusement and water parks -- including rides on Jersey Shore boardwalks -- will be able to reopen at 50 percent capacity, the governor said. Face coverings will be required and strict hygiene protocols will be fully implemented, he said.  Rides will be sanitized and will accommodate social distancing measures. Playgrounds have been closed since mid-March, as one of the…

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by Cecilia Levine
Schools
NJ Education Officials To Release Guidelines On Welcoming College Students Back To Campus NJ Education Officials To Release Guidelines On Welcoming College Students Back To Campus
NJ Education Officials To Release Guidelines On Welcoming College Students Back To Campus New Jersey education officials on Wednesday is expected to release guidelines for the state's colleges and universities bringing students back on campus for upcoming summer and fall semesters. No hard date was set, rather, institutions were told they can provide individual plans to The NJ Office of the Secretary of Higher Education at least 14 days before the date they want to reopen for review by the state's health department. The plans must consider 10 key areas: Instruction, housing, computer labs, libraries, research and labs, student services, transportation, dining, study ab…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
'Outdoors Safer Than Indoors': New Jersey Enters Stage 2 Of Reopening Process 'Outdoors Safer Than Indoors': New Jersey Enters Stage 2 Of Reopening Process
'Outdoors Safer Than Indoors': New Jersey Enters Stage 2 Of Reopening Process New Jersey is officially in Stage 2 of reopening from the coronavirus lockdown. Outdoor dining at restaurants, non-essential indoor retail, childcare centers, libraries for curbside pick-up and drop off, and pickup for services at MVC centers were allowed to reopen Monday with restrictions. Social-distancing measures, limited capacity and face coverings were mandatory. Reopening indoor environments will be a slow and careful process, Gov. Phil Murphy noted. "Our goal is to not experience the spikes that other states are now seeing because they rushed to open too much too soon," h…

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by Cecilia Levine
Business
LAWSUIT: Asbury Park, State Clash Over COVID-19 Indoor Dining Ban LAWSUIT: Asbury Park, State Clash Over COVID-19 Indoor Dining Ban
Lawsuit: Asbury Park, State Clash Over Covid-19 Indoor Dining Ban New Jersey is suing Asbury Park over its local decision defying Gov. Phil Murphy's orders and allowing restaurants to reopen indoor dining areas, state officials said. "We have put the health and safety protocols in place so that you can have confidence," Gov. Phil Murphy said at a Friday afternoon news briefing. State officials have tried to amicably resolve its dispute with Asbury Park government officials and "unfortunately they have not done so," Murphy said. "We believe indoor restaurants can run in a safe manner provided they are subject to all the requirements outlined in Executive …

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by Jon Craig
News
Better Late Than Never: Murphy, NJ First Lady Tested For Coronavirus Better Late Than Never: Murphy, NJ First Lady Tested For Coronavirus
Better Late Than Never: Murphy, NJ First Lady Tested For Coronavirus Better late than never. Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife were tested for exposure to coronavirus on Wednesday. Murphy has been urging the public to get tested for weeks, saying it's "one of our only protections," along with hand-washing, mask-wearing, social distancing and contact tracing. "Tammy and I got tested this morning.," Murphy said at an afternoon news conference. Murphy said it's his third test for coronavirus since the outbreak began. It typically takes up to two days to get the test results. The first positive test for COVID-19 was on March 4 -- 99 days ago. In that time,&…

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by Jon Craig