State issues guidelines for outdoor dining, issues special ruling for liquor licensees

Dining al fresco during last year's Chef's Night Out in Ventnor.

By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY

Following Gov. Phil Murphy's Executive Order 150, the New Jersey Department of Health has issued protocols for food and beverage dining in outdoor areas.

In moving to Phase 2 reopening after the COVID-19 restrictions he previously put in place, Murphy said restaurants could provide outdoor dining with social distancing measures, starting 6 a.m. Monday, June 15.

Margate responded by relaxing its zoning requirements for certain restaurants to maintain onsite parking. Several restaurant owners said they would set up tables in a portion of their parking lots.

Ventnor officials are currently investigating ways for local eateries to provide outdoor dining on sidewalks and in nearby vacant lots.

According to an executive order from Commissioner of Health Judith Persichilli, outdoor food and beverage service requires restaurant owners to post signage stating those with a fever should not enter the establishment. The order includes regulations to be met, such as:

• Setting maximum seating to eight people per table


• Tables must be six feet apart in all directions


• Physical guides put in place for marking 6-foot intervals in waiting areas


• No buffets, salad bars or drink stations will be permitted.

Staff must disinfect all tables, chairs and other shared items, such as menus, condiments and pens, after each use, as well as high-touch areas such as keypads, counters and credit card machines. Sneeze guards must be installed at cash registers, bars and host stations. Servers must maintain 6-foot distance from patrons as much as possible.

Employees must frequently wash their hands, have daily health checks and wear face coverings and gloves when handling food.

The order requires those making reservations to provide a phone number in the event contact tracing becomes necessary. Patrons can wait in their vehicles or away from tables when waiting their turn.

As New Jersey's bars and restaurants reopen sit-down service to patrons, we are doing everything we can to help meet their needs to serve patrons while complying with the social distancing requirements in place to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19, Attorney General Gubir Grewal said. Our first priority is to protect the health and safety of all New Jerseyans as our state embarks on the road to economic recovery.

For more information, see

https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/docs/ExecutiveDirective20-014OutdoorDining.pdf

The Division of Alcohol Beverage Control today announced a special ruling to allow restaurants to expand their premises to allow liquor sales in outdoor areas. Licensees must apply for a one-time, temporary permit. Permits, which will cost $75, will expire on Nov. 30.

The Special Ruling we're announcing today will help offset the economic impact to licensees cause by a reduced capacity of patrons allowed on-premises at any given time, Acting Director of the Division of ABC said.

For more information, see

https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases20/SR_2020-10_Executed-Temporary-Extension-Permits.pdf

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