NJ COVID-19 News: New Jersey increases restrictions on outdoor gatherings, youth sports

NEWARK, New Jersey (WABC) -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced reducing its outdoor gathering limit from 150 to 25, starting next Monday.

BREAKING: We are RETIGHTENING the limit on outdoor gatherings to 25 individuals – effective 6:00 AM on December 7th.

Only exceptions:
☑️Religious or political activities
☑️Funerals
☑️Memorial services
☑️Wedding ceremonies

Outdoor dining is UNAFFECTED by this announcement. pic.twitter.com/fh0m9laRXC
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2020

"As you start to make your holiday plans, please recognize that the gathering limits are back to what they were in May and June - when we all came together and crushed the curve as much as any state in the nation," Murphy said. "Keep gatherings as small as possible."

Youth and high school indoor sports will be put on hold from Friday through at least January 2.

NEW: All indoor youth and adult sports are being placed on a full pause – effective 6:00 AM on December 5th through January 2nd, 2021.

We’re seeing outbreaks related to indoor sports, and this will help slow the spread.

Only exceptions: collegiate-level and professional teams.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2020

The high school indoor sports ban appears to most directly affect the NJSIAA ice hockey season.

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Gov. Phil Murphy discusses the new restrictions being put in place in New Jersey.

High school hockey practice was scheduled to start on Dec. 14, followed by competition on Jan. 4.

If the indoor sports pause ends on Jan. 2, no other NJSIAA indoor sport will be impacted.

Murphy joined governors of six other northeastern states earlier this month in a youth hockey interstate travel ban, in effect through at least Dec. 31. State officials said at the time that youth hockey was in their crosshairs, because of the spread associated with the activities surrounding the games, not the playing of the games themselves.

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Gov Murphy says the state is putting a pause on high school sports.

On Monday, Governor Murphy reported that the state had 3,199 new positive cases for a total of 337,304 cases.

There were 15 new confirmed deaths for a total of 15,164 since the pandemic began.

We have lost nearly 17,000 of our fellow New Jerseyans to this virus.

We lost 18,300 New Jerseyans in both World Wars, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War COMBINED.

Take this seriously.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2020

Murphy also stated his concerns for hospitals statewide.

"Maintaining the stability of our health care system and ensuring the ability of our frontline medical workers to treat patients starts with implementing restrictions that will keep people from becoming a hospital patient," he said.

As of last night:
☑️2,961 patients in our hospitals
☑️263 patients discharged yesterday
☑️378 new hospital admittances yesterday
☑️575 patients in our ICUs
☑️332 ventilators in use

26 patients died in our hospitals yesterday. pic.twitter.com/XcXuLLvjH5
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) November 30, 2020

MORE NEWS: "COVID tested" flights to take off from JFK, Newark airports next month

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Italian authorities will soon approve an experiment with "COVID tested" flights from three U.S. airports with the aim of eliminating the required 14-day quarantine for passengers arriving in Italy, Rome's main airport said Thursday.