Reopening New Jersey: NJ unveils guidance levels for resuming organized sports
NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday new guidance levels for resuming organized sports in New Jersey.
Sports are being categorized by low, medium, or high-risk on guidance from the National Federation of State High School Associations, Murphy said.
Low-risk sports such as golf or tennis may resume competitions, while medium and high-risk sports may resume non-contact drills and practices on June 22.
Murphy said he anticipates competition for medium-risk sports - including baseball, softball, soccer, and outdoor basketball - to resume on July 6 and full practices and competitions for high-risk sports on July 20.
"Across the board all sports will have to abide by a number of health and safety protocols, including screens for athletes, coaches and staff, limited equipment sharing and strong requirements for disinfecting and sanitizing equipment," Murphy said.
All competitions and tournaments must abide by the state's limit on outdoor gatherings, Gov. Murphy says, which is currently 100 people, but is expected to be 250 a week from Monday, and 500 people by July 3.
"Sports are an ingrained part of so many of our communities and our lives and our families," Murphy said. "We want everyone to be healthy and to be able to get out and play, but even more, we want everyone to be safe."
MORE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 COVERAGE
abc7NY Phase Tracker:
COVID-19 Help, Information. Stimulus and Business Updates
UPDATES
REOPENING INFORMATION
RELATED INFORMATION
Share your coronavirus story with Eyewitness News
Stimulus check scams and other coronavirus hoaxes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on coronavirus
Total count of NYC, Long Island COVID-19 cases based on patient address
