Outdoor gatherings of up to 200 people are now allowed after Gov. Phil Murphy announced earlier in the week he was loosening the coronavirus restriction.
The increase is up from the limit of 25 people. Indoor gatherings, meanwhile, are still capped at 25 people.
The latest executive order also increases capacity limits for New Jersey’s sports, concert, and entertainment venues and makes it so banquet halls can host indoor celebrations and other private events at 35% of the room’s capacity or a maximum of 150 people for any occasion.
Previously, banquet halls and similar venues were only allowed to operate under those limits for weddings.
The new rules went into effect at 6 a.m.
“With the warmer weather approaching, we are taking the step to increase outdoor gathering limits to encourage everyone to engage in social activities outside whenever possible,” Murphy said in a statement when making the announcement.
Venues that can seat 2,500 people will be permitted to increase indoor seating capacity to 20%, up from 10%, and outdoor capacity to 30%, up from 15%.
Previously, increased indoor capacity limits were lifted only for “large venues,” which the administration categorized as places that could hold 5,000 people or more. The new rule effectively makes those places that can seat 2,500 or more a large venue.
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage
That means New Jersey Devils games at the Prudential Center and other sports and entertainment events can now have more fans.
“Additionally, we are confident in increasing capacity in our large venues as we have seen the strict enforcement of our COVID-19 health and safety protocols by spectators since we reopened these venues last month,” Murphy said. “By continuing to follow public health guidance and data, I am hopeful that we will be able to responsibly and incrementally expand capacities in the coming months.”
There are no caps on the number of people who can gather outdoors for religious or political activities, as well as for funerals, memorial services, and wedding ceremonies.
The latest easing of the rule comes as the number of new daily COVID-19 cases continues to climb in New Jersey.
New Jersey is now in a third wave of the pandemic that may not peak until mid-April in a moderate scenario and mid-May in a worst-case scenario — with the latter possibly seeing 8,000 daily cases and 3,600 hospitalized patients, according to new prediction models Murphy’s office released earlier in the week.
Under a moderate scenario, the state would peak with 5,445 cases and 2,669 people hospitalized with COVID-19 on April 18, the models show — about 300 more patients than the state’s current total. That would include 574 people in intensive care, with 319 on ventilators.
There would be more than 5,000 daily cases through late April and that number would not fall below 4,000 until mid-May and below 3,000 until mid-June, while hospitalizations would not fall below 2,000 until May 18 and below 1,000 until August.
Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com.