New Jersey To Allow Chartered Boat Services, Watercraft Rentals As Beaches Set To Reopen In Time For Memorial Day Weekend
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS/AP) - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced Saturday he will be signing an executive order to allow the resumption of fishing charters, watercraft rentals, and other chartered boat services. The order goes into effect Sunday at 6 a.m.
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Murphy says the resumption of chartered-boat services will require specific social distancing and sanitation measures, including phone and online payments to lessen person-to-person contact. All passenger and customer logs must be maintained for the purpose of contact training should that be required, Murphy said.
This order comes just days after Murphy announced beaches would reopen in time for Memorial Day.
"In addition to enjoying our beaches, our shoregoers will also be able to enjoy some time on the water, as well," Murphy said. "Even with social distancing, we are confident everyone can have a safe and memorable summer."
In other virus-related news, Murphy reported 1,239 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the state's total to 145,089. He also announced another 115 COVID-19 related deaths. The statewide total now stands at 10,249.
Murphy said Saturday the positivity trend continues downward.
"That continues to be a good sign that the spread has slowed," Murphy said. "Not only in certain regions but statewide."
Murphy also expressed gratitude to the Trump administration for $1.4 billion in federal aid for emergency funding for New Jersey Transit, calling it "absolutely necessary and certainly welcomed." He said NJ Transit will need more money to make up for fare losses over the last few months during the emergency.
Murphy, a Democrat, said he had spoken with the president Friday and the two had found "a very significant amount of common ground during this crisis."
"Obviously we are from different parties, different perspectives; I think it's fairly obvious to say that we're going to have some disagreements on other stuff, but we've found an unusual amount of common ground," he said, citing the transit funding as well as earlier dealings with the administration on ventilators, beds, testing, and supplies.
Murphy announced Friday that the state's primary slated for July 7 will be primarily a vote-by-mail election. Murphy says that all registered Democratic and Republican voters will receive a postage-paid vote-by-mail ballot and that all unaffiliated and inactive voters will also receive a ballot application.
There will be one polling location open in each municipality for those who wish to vote in person. Social distancing guidelines will be in place at those polling locations.
Murphy has also given the green light for the return of elective surgeries.
(© Copyright 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
