Coronavirus Pandemic

Trenton to implement stricter COVID-19 restrictions Monday

New Jersey’s capital city will take advantage of a new order from Gov. Phil Murphy allowing it to implement stricter rules to mitigate COVID-19 spread as cases rise.

P. Kenneth Burns

November 16, 2020

Staff in protective equipment prepare to test people at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Taking advantage of a new order from Gov. Phil Murphy, New Jersey’s capital city will implement additional coronavirus restrictions that take effect on Monday.

The changes come as COVID-19 transmission rates in Trenton have doubled over the last three weeks.

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“It’s clear the second wave is here and has hit the Capital City especially hard,” said Mayor Reed Gusciora in a news release announcing the new restrictions. “Our transmission rates may even be higher now than they were in the spring.”

Under the new guidelines:

All businesses — including restaurants, bars and grocery stores — must close daily at 10 p.m.
Gas stations may stay open only to dispense gas.
Restaurants and drive-through businesses can remain open for pickup or delivery until 11 p.m.

Residents are urged to stay indoors after 10 p.m.

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Officials encouraged residents to avoid large family gatherings for Thanksgiving, as well as hosting visitors from areas listed on the state’s travel advisory list; as of Nov. 10, that included nearly every state and Puerto Rico.

The restrictions go into effect one week after Murphy announced new restrictions that included barring indoor dining between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. but allowed delivery, take-out and outdoor dining to continue past 10 p.m.

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