All indoor NJ malls will close as of 8 pm on March 17 to curb the transmission of coronavirus. Governor Murphy initiated the shopping mall closures after the state announced a massive surge in cases. NJ’s positive cases went from 98 yesterday afternoon to 267 today spread across 15 of 21 counties, according to the NJ Department of Health. A third NJ coronavirus death was announced last night.
Indoor amusement centers also must close as of 8 pm tonight. Other non-essential retail, recreation and amusement businesses can remain open for the time being as long as there are always less than 50 people in the space at once and they remain closed between 8 pm and 5 am.
The mandate on NJ malls is in addition to yesterday’s closures of movie theaters, gyms and casinos, plus the banning of dine-in service at restaurants and bars, limiting them to take-out and delivery only. A suggested curfew of 8 pm was also recommended for all residents by the state. The state’s goal is to limit contact between individuals to prevent the coronavirus from spreading further.
Governor Murphy announced that two coronavirus testing sites will also be coming to NJ at Bergen County Community College in Paramus and PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. You can now get tested for free without a doctor’s note at lots B and C at Bergen Community. New Jersey was named one of a dozen priority states to have these sites set up by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The National Guard is also being utilized to help in areas like food distribution, testing and self-quarantining.
