New rules for New Jersey. Falling in line behind other liberal cities sending their constituents back into stay at home mandates, Newark begins today. “Beginning Oct. 27, all stores except supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations must close at 8 p.m., announced Mayor Ras Baraka Monday,” reported Fox 5 New York.
The mayor’s quick action drastically imposing upon the city’s citizens with less than 24-hour notice is the result of 101 new cases recorded on Sunday. Among the new restrictions, restaurants can leave their outdoor dining open until 11 p.m., three hours longer than their indoor dining areas.
Restaurants “will be allowed to deliver and take out with no indoor ordering or lines. Restaurants must also take the temperature of all patrons coming inside and ask them if they have been in touch with anyone with COVID-19” reports Fox 5. Beauty, hair and nail salons are only allowed to accept customers by appointment.
Suffering the greatest restrictions are gyms and health clubs; not only must they abide by the 8 p.m. curfew, but they must also close “for half an hour each hour for sanitizing.” All sports activities and “open park practices and games in the East Ward are canceled.” Fox 5 also reported, “Newark is discouraging all parties, indoor and outdoor festivals, and large family gatherings until further notice.”
Director of Health and Community Wellness for the City of Newark, Dr. Mark Wade, stated: “until, and even after, a vaccine is made available to every Newarker, the most potent immunization we will have available is a decision to take personal responsibility to obey and model the recommendations that keep us all safe.”
Mayor Baraka said “this is not the first time COVID-19 has threatened our city and its residents at this magnitude and once again, we will meet this challenge with determination and guided by data…We are Newark strong and can get through this together. We did it once before and we can do it again.” The city has already determined to reassess and decide by November 10th whether or not to ease restrictions and lift the curfew.
