TRENTON – Gov. Phil Murphy today announced he would sign an Executive Order ordering all non-essential construction to cease indefinitely, effective 8 p.m, Friday, April 9.
He said he would take the action to further the state’s aggressive efforts to enforce social distancing.
Exceptions include projects at hospitals, schools, transportation and public utilities, building of affordable housing and other individual housing sites that can adhere to strict limits on the number of workers on-site, and other limited instances.
“We’re also aiming to mitigate overcrowding at essential retail stores – particularly in our grocery stores,” he said.
Under the Executive Order, all essential retail must indefinitely limit the number of customers allowed in their stores to no more than 50% of their approved capacity.
Additionally, customers and employees must wear face coverings. Stores must also provide special shopping hours for high-risk individuals, erect physical barriers between customers and cashiers and baggers where practicable, regularly sanitize areas used by their employees and more.
The Executive Order will also put greater protections in place for workers at warehouses and in manufacturing.
“No one should be working where social distancing isn’t being practiced to its fullest extent,” he said.
