New Jersey coronavirus update: Murphy gives go-ahead to summer camps, hints at accelerated state reopening
Coronavirus Update New Jersey
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced summer camps - both day camps and sleepaways - will open for the upcoming season.
"We're committed to a safe and fun summer for our kids," Murphy said Wednesday.
The announcement comes after the CDC updated its guidance for summer camps that people who can get vaccinated against COVID-19 should do so, but everyone should wear masks, distance is still necessary and staying outdoors is best.
"Even with the updated CDC guidance, relaxing the necessity of wearing a mask outdoors, masking-up remains mandatory indoors," Murphy said.
To mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, the Department of Health guidance includes the following requirements:
- Daily health screenings for staff, campers, and volunteers
- The use of infection control protocols such as face masks, cohorting, social distancing, hand hygiene, cleaning, and disinfecting
- Policies and protocols for when a staff member or camper receives a positive COVID-19 test result
- For overnight camps, unvaccinated staff and campers must receive a negative test result within 72 hours of arriving on-site. All staff and campers will be required to receive a test within 3 to 6 days of arrival. Operators should strongly encourage staff and campers to quarantine prior to arrival at camp.
Murphy also hinted the state will see an acceleration in the reopening of the state as soon as Monday after New York announced end dates for the curfews on food and beverage service that were imposed across the state in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
"You are going to see us accelerating open up the state," Murphy said. "There's just no other way to put it."
Murphy spoke with New York officials Wednesday morning about their restaurant and bar reopenings, and both agreed they don't want the "unintended consequences" of people "rushing" from "one side of the Hudson" to the other.
The governor responded to the recently announced CDC guidance on masks.
"Our outside guidance is and has been, has not changed," he said. "We are asking you to wear a mask outdoors unless you can properly socially distance."
Meanwhile, the state is launching a contest calling on New Jersey residents to share why they got vaccinated.
"The winning video will become a central part of our statewide COVID-19 public health campaign," the governor said.
Learn more about #YourVoiceYourShotNJ.
To mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, the Department of Health guidance includes the following requirements:
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