NEWS FROM NEW JERSEY

N.J. supermarkets, stores must limit customers to 50% of capacity, all inside must wear masks under
new coronavirus restriction.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday he is requiring all employees and shoppers at the businesses still open in New Jersey to wear face masks or coverings until further notice to help fight the coronavirus outbreak and has limited the number of customers allowed inside stores to a max of 50% of their capacity.

Murphy signed an executive order to enforce the new rules.

“We are not running out of food or other items. Period,” Murphy said at the Trenton War Memorial during his daily coronavirus press briefing. “We are taking this step to protect both customers and workers.”

A Murphy administration official said store employees are allowed to limit the time offenders are permitted to stay in the store and ask anybody who isn’t wearing a mask or covering to stay away from other customers. But the official did not say if there would be any other punishment for violators.

Murphy said he hopes people not wearing coverings would “get asked to leave” and referred to the limited enforcement action as “benevolent."

“My personal guidance is you gotta go out and find something to put on your face before you come in," the governor said.

Workers will also be required to wear gloves if they’re interacting with customers, Murphy said. Businesses are required to give workers masks, coverings and gloves at the businesses’ expense.