TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's bars, restaurants, casinos and movie theaters will close at 8 p.m. Monday in an effort to curb spread of COVID-19., Gov. Phil Murphy announced, adding that take-out and delivery will still be options.
Murphy announced the closings on a call with fellow Democratic Govs. Andrew Cuomo of New York and Ned Lamont of Connecticut, who are calling for similar closures in their states as part of a regional response to the virus.
The governors also said they would prohibit gatherings of 50 or more people, lining up with federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations.
For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
The vast majority of people recover. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
Murphy has an update scheduled for 2 p.m.
A closer look at developments:
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REGIONAL CLOSINGS
The governor said the closures are in response to the federal government's failure to issue uniform guidelines to the states.
Murphy also said he's discouraging all nonessential travel throughout the state.
Groceries, pharmacies and gas stations will remain open, Murphy said.
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PENDING LEGISLATION
New Jersey's Assembly is set to vote on more than two dozen bills aimed at confronting the coronavirus pandemic.
The Democratic-led chamber has scheduled committee and floor votes Monday on 25 measures, including one that sets aside $20 million for the Education Department for cleaning schools and one that requires districts to offer meals or meal vouchers to students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals during school.
The voting session comes as the state and the country grapple with the virus that has so far killed two in New Jersey.
Ninety-eight people have tested positive for COVID-19, according to state health officials.
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PENDING LEGISLATION
The Assembly is meeting despite the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advising that groups of 50 or more not gather.
The measures include bills that would:
— Give county officials more time to mail ballots for the primary election June 2.
— Let virtual or remote instruction meet the 180-day school year requirement.
— Extend by one month the filing deadline for income and business taxes.
— Create a Temporary Lost Wage Unemployment Program to allow people to claim pay they lost during the outbreak.
— Establish a COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution Fund and set aside $10 million.
— Authorize licensed health care facilities and laboratories to develop and administer coronavirus tests.
It's unclear whether the Democratic-led state Senate will take up the bills. It's not scheduled to meet on Monday.
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SCHOOLS
Murphy said Sunday that he would make an announcement Monday about closing schools. The sate Education Department says that already most of the state's more than 600 school districts have shuttered.
A big issue was finding a way to make sure that children who get free or reduced-price meals can continue to get them, Murphy said. Another issue is making sure that if remote teaching is instituted, the state's roughly 1.4 million students have access to necessary technology.
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CURFEWS AND CLOSURES
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop said in a tweet that all restaurants in the state's second-biggest city would be barred from offering dine-in service and that only take-out, delivery or drive-through would be allowed. Restrictions don't apply to grocery stores, cafeterias within nursing homes or similar facilities, the mayor said.
The chief justice of New Jersey's court system announced over the weekend a two-week suspension of municipal court sessions to mitigate public exposure to the coronavirus.
Teaneck, Bergen County, has been a hotspot, and the mayor has asked residents to self-quarantine. Hoboken has instituted a citywide curfew that begins Monday and will be in effect from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. It requires all residents to remain in their homes, barring emergencies. People who are required to report to work are exempted, the statement released late Saturday said.
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The Associated Press receives support for health and science coverage from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak.
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