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East Orange Mandates All Non-Essential Businesses Close At 8PM; East Orange To Strictly Reinforce Governor Murphy’s Latest Executive Order To Help Stop Spread of COVID-19

November 13, 2020, East Orange, NJ: Mayor Ted R. Green announced Friday that his administration will be reinforcing the city’s previous Saturday and Sunday “Tough Love” Shutdown, which was launched earlier in April to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in the East Orange community.

As cases continue to rise nationwide, East Orange is reporting 2,549 positive cases and 235 deaths, making it the second municipality in Essex County behind the City of Newark with the most COVID-19 cases. Since the start of the “second wave” in September 2020, East Orange has been identifying between 5.1-9.1 cases per 1,000 residents, according to the Essex County Sheriff’s COVID-19 Report.

In September, East Orange had a total of 51 positive cases, followed by 192 in October, and 239 so far in November. “The rising statistics are sobering and we’ve got to act quickly and responsibly to flatten this curve,” said Dr. Monique Griffith, Director of the Department of Health and Human Services. “These new restrictions will help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 by minimizing the likelihood of congregation in and around businesses, and ultimately, around each other.”

EOPD and inspectors from the city's Department of Health and Human Services will be aggressively enforcing Governor Phil Murphy’s latest Executive Order No. 194, which mandates no indoor dining between 10pm and 5am and no bar seating at all. In addition, the city is mandating that all non-essential businesses close by 8pm. The only businesses allowed to remain open beyond 10pm are those providing takeout and delivery services.

“I call this our ‘Tough Love’ Shutdown because I want our residents to know we are taking these extra steps to protect their health out of love we have for our community,” said Mayor Green. “I know this is hard, and has been for the past 35 weeks, but we can get through this together. This is about saving lives and that always must be our top priority.”

Any business that fails to adhere to the executive order may be shut down or face a summons of $250 or more, Mayor Green warns.

The following will be strictly enforced:

- All essential businesses must suspend indoor operations by 10pm and are permitted to reopen at 5am.
Essential businesses include: grocery stores, pharmacies, medical supply stores, gas stations, convenience stores, ancillary stores within healthcare facilities, farmers markets, hardware and home improvement stores, banks and other financial institutions, laundromats and dry-cleaning services, stores that principally sell supplies for children under five years, pet stores, medical marijuana dispensaries, liquor stores, auto maintenance and repair shops, printing and office supply shop, and mail and delivery stores. Restaurants with hours that generally extend beyond 10pm are allowed to remain open for takeout and delivery services only. Non-essential businesses include: salons and spas, gyms and recreation centers, museums and art galleries, shopping malls, theaters. bowling alleys and sporting and concert venues.

- All service-oriented businesses such as barber shops, hair salons and nail salons are to remain open by appointment only.
- All businesses must adhere to and enforce the 25% capacity limitations.
- Face covers are required of patrons of any establishment within the city.
- Additionally, guests who are dining indoors are expected to wear face coverings when not eating or drinking.

The city’s Department of Health and Human Services also strongly recommends that all businesses continue to screen employees for COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival to work each day. Employees with temperatures exceeding 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit should not be servicing the public and should be immediately sent home and encouraged to get tested.

To report violations and large gatherings, please call the East Orange Police Hotline at 973.266.5000.

For more information on the state’s updated new COVID-19 restrictions and other resources, please visit covid19.nj.gov.