New Jersey to expand indoor dining capacity to 35% Friday

New Jersey will soon allow more diners to eat indoors, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Wednesday.

The governor will sign an executive order expanding indoor dining capacity from 25% to 35% starting Friday. It’ll be the first capacity expansion since Murphy allowed indoor dining to resume in early September. Capacity limits for gyms and weddings will see similar limit increases.

The order will also lift a statewide restriction on restaurant operating hours, allowing eateries to stay open past 10 p.m., though municipalities can still enact restrictions that could close businesses, including restaurants, as early as 8 p.m.

Bar seating is still prohibited, and other social distancing measures remain in effect.

The announcement follows weeks of scattered calls from lawmakers to expand hours for bars and restaurants ahead of Super Bowl Sunday, which is this weekend.

Read more: https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/new-jersey-to-expand-indoor-dining-capacity-to-35-friday/