New Jersey to halt indoor sports, cap outside gatherings

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said on Monday the state plans to halt indoor youth and adult sports and cap outdoor gatherings to 25 people by the end of the week.

Murphy said during a press conference that the state was canceling indoor youth and adult sports starting on Saturday at 6 a.m. through Jan. 2. Collegiate-level and professional sports teams are the only exceptions to the new rule, he said, adding that he hopes and intends for winter sports to start in January.

“Stability in our health care system starts with carefully chosen steps to hamper the spread of the virus and because of the data, we know how and where we can best beat this challenge,” Murphy said. 

“We’re seeing outbreaks related to indoor sports and this is a prudent short-term step to slow the spread,” he added. 

NEW: All indoor youth and adult sports are being placed on a full pause – effective 6:00 AM on December 5th through January 2nd, 2021.

We’re seeing outbreaks related to indoor sports, and this will help slow the spread.

Only exceptions: collegiate-level and professional teams.

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2020

The governor also announced that the state will limit its outdoor gatherings to 25 people starting 6 a.m. next Monday, after previously reducing the cap to 150 people two weeks prior from 500 people. 

Murphy listed the exceptions as religious or political activities, funerals, memorial services and wedding ceremonies. He also clarified that the rule change did not affect outdoor dining with people dining in separate groups.

BREAKING: We are RETIGHTENING the limit on outdoor gatherings to 25 individuals – effective 6:00 AM on December 7th.

Only exceptions:
☑️Religious or political activities
☑️Funerals
☑️Memorial services
☑️Wedding ceremonies

Outdoor dining is UNAFFECTED by this announcement. pic.twitter.com/fh0m9laRXC

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2020

Murphy dismissed the notion of New Jersey instituting lockdowns or shutdowns as “rumors” saying, “We’re not in the same situation we found ourselves in during the spring.”

Following Thanksgiving, Murphy encouraged state residents to organize future holiday plans, including Christmas, by making gatherings “as small as possible.”

Edward Lifshitz, the medical director of the New Jersey Department of Health, said during the briefing that it is “strongly recommended that people consider alternatives to visiting Santa at indoor locations, such as virtual visits or outdoor social distanced visits and photos.”

Malls will continue to have Santa appearances and appointments with masks and social distancing but “children should not be permitted to sit on Santa’s lap.”

As we come out of the long Thanksgiving weekend and turn our gaze to the December holidays, we must remember that this virus is not done with us.

Let’s redouble our efforts and end the year by crushing the curve a second time, so we can look forward to a better 2021.

— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2020

At the end of October, New Jersey had a seven-day average of 1,507 new COVID-19 cases per day, according to The New York Times. The current seven-day average has reached 4,018 new cases.