Murphy Updates Business Exemptions

By George N. Saliba, Managing Editor On Mar 30, 2020

Gov. Phil Murphy said at today’s press conference that a new administrative order updates and clarifies Executive Order No. 107 to include online or remote sales by authorized car dealerships that can now deliver vehicles directly to their customers – or to arrange for curbside or service-lane pick-up at their dealerships.

Realtors are also allowed to show homes on a one-on-one basis, but “open houses” remain banned. Separately, as per guidelines issued by the United States Department of Homeland Security, New Jersey will now allow firearms dealers to operate on a by-appointment-only basis – and during limited hours.

Murphy said, “Again, we are doing this [firearms dealers exception] in light of the federal guidance published Saturday night, which includes these retailers as part of critical infrastructure.”

A copy of New Jersey’s administrative order (which also officially closes golf courses), can be found here.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control relaxed a May ruling and this helps allow breweries and brew pubs “to provide home delivery to their customers,” Murphy said.

Social Distancing and Enforcement

While there are the above business updates to Executive Order No. 107, Murphy continued to stress the critical need for social distancing, in part to ensure the state’s hospital infrastructure does not become overloaded.

New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan cited several instances of non-compliance among the state’s residents and businesses, for a total of 70 incidents resulting in 34 indictable offenses. One such incident included a barbershop that allegedly remained open during the pandemic, for example.

Murphy said a task force has been established by state and federal law enforcement to “investigate and prosecute misconduct ranging from unlawful hoarding of medical supplies and price gouging, to charity scams and procurement fraud, among other, unlawful activities.”

New Jersey now has 16,636 known COVID-19 cases and 198 related deaths thus far, Gov. Phil Murphy said at today’s press conference, with both he and Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli using graphs to showcase how social distancing will hopefully “flatten the curve.”

Persichilli noted that New Jersey is using the CHIME (COVID-19 Hospital Impact Model for Epidemics) model.

She concluded, “We believe that our social distancing mitigation interventions, our ability to slow down the doubling of the rate of the infection, and the increase in the number of beds that we are bringing online will prepare us to handle the surge that we are expecting, imminently.”

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

Related Articles: