Montclair Bars, Restaurants Face New COVID Rules From NJ – Again – Patch.com

MONTCLAIR, NJ — New Jersey’s latest coronavirus regulations are going to mean early nights for many bars and restaurants in Montclair, starting Thursday.

Gov. Phil Murphy has repeatedly warned that if the state’s COVID-19 numbers start backsliding, it may mean a return to stricter regulations for restaurants and bars.

Earlier this week, Murphy followed through on his promise, announcing that restaurants and bars will have to stop all indoor service by 10 p.m. and nix seating at the bar. Outdoor dining, takeout and delivery services can continue beyond 10 p.m., and enclosed, heated tents can be put up outside.

The new rules begin Thursday at 5 a.m.

In Montclair, there have been 690 cumulative cases of COVID-19 and 52 deaths as of Wednesday, according to Essex County’s most recent totals.

Overall, Essex County has been one of the hardest-hit areas in the entire state when it comes to the virus. As of Wednesday, the county has seen 28,451 confirmed COVID-19 cases according to the state Department of Health – the most in New Jersey.

Essex County has also seen 1,931 confirmed deaths linked to the disease, also the highest total in the state.

DOING BUSINESS AMID A PANDEMIC

Since the pandemic began, businesses in Essex County have been kept on their toes by the state’s ever-evolving coronavirus rules. Some have succeeded under the new regulations – and even thrived – while others have struggled.

But failure amid the pandemic isn’t always their fault according to some elected officials, who say the state’s new COVID-19 regulations go too far.

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (District 26), who represents towns including Fairfield, North Caldwell, Verona and West Caldwell, said Murphy is taking a “shotgun” approach to the situation, but needs to use a “scalpel” instead.

For example, Murphy’s latest edict in reaction to an uptick in COVID-19 cases requires virtually all restaurants to erect plexiglass barriers around dining tables that are less than six feet apart – and greater restrictions on bar areas. But DeCroce argued the cost of those barriers is prohibitive for many small restaurants that are barely making ends meet now.

“State officials need to start thinking about what our community landscape is going to look like, and what our state economy is going to look like when we pull out of the pandemic,” DeCroce said. “We don’t want to leave behind a barren wasteland of closed businesses and broken dreams.”

Sen. Joe Pennacchio, who also represents District 26, also blasted Gov. Murphy’s latest curfew for restaurants and bars, saying it’s “just another random edict” amid the pandemic.

“Is the governor suggesting diners are more susceptible to the virus later in the night?” Pennacchio questioned. “Unjustified restrictions like this crippled New Jersey’s economy earlier this year. We can’t let this happen again.”

Are you an owner or employee at a bar/restaurant in Montclair? Let us know how the new rules are affecting YOU in the comments section, or reach out to eric.kiefer@patch.com.

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