New Jersey on Friday will end its ban on interstate outdoor sports that was put in place last year because of the coronavirus pandemic, though indoor interstate sports remain prohibited, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.
Interstate outdoor games will come with some restrictions, Murphy said during his latest COVID-19 briefing in Trenton.
“While outdoor interstate sports competitions may resume, attendees will be limited to players, coaches, and officials, and up to two parents or guardians per participating athlete,” the governor said. “No additional spectators or attendees will be allowed.”
Players also have to wear masks when not engaged in the game and abide by other safety rules.
“We continue to highly discourage any long-distance travel,” Murphy said. “But, as the weather begins to warm up and the outdoor sports season look to start, I am pleased we can take this first step.”
Murphy order the ban on indoor interstate sports in November and then clarified the order a month later to include outdoor sports.
“Outdoor interstate youth sports competitions – including those operated by school-based, club, and recreational programs — are permitted to resume within the state,” according to the order. “School-based, club, and recreational programs are also permitted to host outdoor interstate youth sports competitions outside of New Jersey, or outdoor youth sports competitions outside of New Jersey that would require New Jersey teams to travel to another state.”
Games or other competitions held outdoors in New Jersey remain subject to the state’s 50 person limit on outdoor gatherings, but may exceed that total if all those necessary for the game are present, including coaches, athletes and officials, according to the order.
The order does not apply to professional and college interstate games.
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New Jersey on Wednesday reported another 3,590 confirmed cases and 38 additional confirmed deaths. New Jersey’s seven-day average for new confirmed coronavirus cases is now 3,145, up 12{066dbc63777e5ed549f406789d72fdeebd77a32711d57f7b38ff2b35c4ba2a42} from a week ago and 12{066dbc63777e5ed549f406789d72fdeebd77a32711d57f7b38ff2b35c4ba2a42} from a month ago.
In all, New Jersey has now reported 751,082 confirmed coronavirus cases out of more than 11 million PCR tests in the year since the state reported its first case on March 4, 2020. There have also been more than 97,000 positive antigen tests. Those cases are considered probable, and health officials have warned that positive antigen tests could overlap with the confirmed PCR tests because they are sometimes given in tandem.
The state of 9 million people has reported 24,045 residents have died from complications related to COVID-19 — 21,530 confirmed deaths and 2,515 fatalities considered probable. The probable deaths, which are revised weekly, increased by 41 fatalities on Wednesday.
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Matt Arco may be reached at [email protected].
