On March 21, 2020, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 to fellow New Jerseyeans, Govenor Phil Murphy released Executive Order 107 instructing all Garden State residents to stay in their homes until further notice. The novel order allows for certain exceptions, including obtaining “essential” goods and services, reporting to work, engaging in outdoor activities, seeking medical attention, or visiting family or close friends.
“From day one, we’ve made a commitment to be guided by the facts and take any action necessary to protect the health and safety of New Jersey’s nine million residents,” said Governor Murphy. “We know the virus spreads through person-to person contact, and the best way to prevent further exposure is to limit our public interactions to only the most essential purposes. This is a time for us all to come together in one mission to ‘flatten the curve’ and slow — and eventually halt — the spread of coronavirus.”
In addition, Govenor Murphy’s order directs the closure of every “non-essential” retail businesses to the public with exceptions of the following:
- Banks and financial institutions
- Gas stations
- Grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and farms who sell directly to customers, and food stores including retailers that offer a varied assortment of foods comparable to what exists at grocery stores
- Ancillary stores within healthcare facilities
- Liquor stores
- Dry cleaning services and laundromats
- Medical supply stores
- Pharmacies and medical marijuana dispensaries
- Printing and office supply shops
- Mail and delivery stores
- Pet stores
- Stores that principally sell suppliers for children under five years
- Bicycle shops, but only to offer service and repair
- Livestock feed stores
- Farming equipment stores
- Nurseries and garden centers
- Mobile phone retail and repair shops
- Hardware and home improvement stores
What’s more, all businesses or non-profits must accommodate their workforce for telework or work-from-home arrangements. To the extent a business or non-profit has workers that cannot carry out their functions via telework or work-from-home arrangements, they should make best efforts to reduce staff on sites to the minimal number necessary to ensure that essential operations can continue.
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