A Barnegat Bay scene from 2012. (Courtesy of Jennifer Husar)
As boating season nears in New Jersey, marinas, boatyards, and marine manufactures will be allowed to operate amid the ongoing pandemic only if managements follow strict social distancing and sanitation protocols, officials announced Saturday.
But chartered watercraft services or rentals are prohibited, and restaurant activity at the facilities must be limited to take-out or delivery.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced the directive in conjunction with the governors of New York and Connecticut.
“We’ve committed to working with our regional partners throughout this crisis to align our policies when and where appropriate,” Murphy said in a news release. “A unified approach is the most effective way to alleviate confusion for the residents of our states during the ongoing public health emergency.”
As of Saturday, Murphy announced 81,420 confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Jersey and 4,070 deaths. But the governor added that more people in the state are now leaving hospitals after being treated for COVID-19 than are entering them.