East Windsor Township E-News Updates - <h3>June 17, 2020 (ALERT)</h3>

Mayor Mironov and Council Members, to support local eateries, have implemented a streamlined process to approve new or expanded in-person service in outdoor dining areas for Food and Beverage Establishments. The Township has waived the filing fee and is expediting the review of all applications seeking to establish outdoor seating.

In addition to food and beverage establishments that may re-open existing outdoor areas, the following East Windsor businesses have been approved for temporary outdoor dining:

Additional information for local establishments wishing to provide temporary new or expanded outdoor dining is available online (CLICK HERE) or by calling the Township Manager's office at (609) 443-4000, ext. 245.

Remember "EAST WINDSOR TO GO". The full "East Windsor To Go" program list shows all of the food establishments that are open for food delivery or contactless pickup at their locations. (CLICK HERE).

Residents are encouraged to continue supporting all our local businesses, including our restaurants and food establishments, during these challenging times.

Your Favorite East Windsor Restaurants for Outdoor Dining, Pickup and Delivery

By supporting the East Windsor To Go program of ordering great food from our community restaurants, residents can win valuable gift cards from Barnes and Noble by sending us photos of what you ordered for pickup or delivery. For the next contest, residents are being asked to tell us what their favorite food is and from what local East Windsor restaurant. Your personal food favorite can be in any category - pasta, burgers, french fries, soup! The best selection that includes the hashtag #EWMyFave is eligible to win.

To participate, fill out the form at the link below and upload a picture of where you've shared your East Windsor To Go food order on social media with the hashtags #EWMyFave. Selections will be made for the best social media posts for East Windsor To Go and the winners will be notified. All East Windsor residents can participate! Submissions are accepted through Sunday, June 21.

To participate, Click here to upload your East Windsor To Go! picture submission.

Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 154 (CLICK HERE) on June 13, 2020 allowing Personal Care Service facilities to reopen to the public beginning Monday, June 22 at 6:00 a.m., provided the facilities comply with standards issued by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs and Department of Health.

Under the Governor’s Executive Order, personal care service facilities include:

The Division of Consumer Affairs issued an Administrative Order (CLICK HERE) that includes comprehensive health and safety standards that personal care services who are licensees of the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling and the New Jersey Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy must abide by, including:

The Order further directs the Commissioner of the Department of Health (DOH) to issue health and safety standards for use by tattoo parlors, tanning salons and other locations in which personal care services are offered by individuals who are not acting within the scope of a license issued by a professional board within the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Nothing in the Order prevents the provision of services to a person that is confined to their home and unable to travel due to a disability, if these services 1) are permitted under existing statutes and regulations and 2) are provided in a manner that substantially complies with standards issued by the Division of Consumer Affairs and DOH. DOH issued an Executive Directive (CLICK HERE) that includes comprehensive health and safety standards for these locations.

Cosmetology schools or other places that provide instruction and training for personal care services remain closed at this time.

Governor Murphy announced an Administrative Order (CLICK HERE) on June 14, 2020 which permits Libraries to allow curbside pickup, beginning on Monday, June 15 at 6:00 a.m., but the libraries remain closed to the public.

The order also clarifies rules affecting a number of different activities and businesses, as follows:

Restaurants and indoor recreational and entertainment businesses are permitted to allow individuals to tour their facilities for event-planning purposes, but such individuals must wear face coverings at all times and the facility may not provide food or drink tastings or samplings;
Students, who may be accompanied by parents or guardians, may enter school premises to retrieve personal belongings from lockers, classrooms, or other areas;
Open houses to view real estate are permitted, provided they comply with the restrictions on indoor gatherings, including the requirement that attendees wear face coverings;
Bicycle shops, boat dealerships, car and used car dealerships, farming equipment stores, federal firearms licensees, livestock feed stores, mobile phone retail and repair shops, motorcycle dealerships, and nurseries and garden centers can operate according to the requirements placed on essential retail businesses;
All car washes can operate according to the requirements placed on essential retail businesses;
Yard and garage sales are permitted subject to the requirements on indoor gatherings, but municipalities shall have the discretion to impose additional restrictions on these sales;
Special events, including fireworks displays, at public and private beaches, boardwalks, lakes, and lakeshores are permitted, subject to the restrictions on outdoor gatherings; and
Shared space tutoring service facilities remain closed to students and clients.

New Jersey Department of Health on June 15, issued health and safety protocols for OUTDOOR ORGANIZED SPORTS activities (CLICK HERE) permitted effective June 22.

The guidance permits practices and competitions for low-risk sports (golf, tennis) that do not involve contact, and modified no-contact practices for medium-risk (soccer, baseball, softball) and high-risk (football) sports. Traditional practices and competitions for medium-risk sports are expected to be allowed as of July 6, and for high-risk sports as of July 20. As of now, only outdoor activities will be permitted. Municipalities retain the discretion to open or close municipal fields or facilities for these activities.

Under the guidance:

Outdoor athletic facilities are permitted to open and be available for organized youth and adult sports activities.
Each sports program is required to develop a preparation plan that includes social distancing, staggered schedules, screening, equipment cleaning/sanitation, and face covering protocols, among other measures.
Programs should consider consistent groups of the same staff, volunteers and athletes, and avoid mixing between groups. Athletes are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and equipment to practices, and equipment sharing should be limited.
Practices and games must follow outdoor gathering limits including athletes, staff and any visitors or spectators.
Staff and parents/guardians/visitors are required to wear cloth face coverings at practices and games.
Athletes are encouraged to wear masks during downtime, but not during physical activity. Nonessential visitors, spectators, staff, volunteers, vendors, members of the media, and activities involving external groups or organizations should be limited as much as possible.

The guidance does not apply to professional sports activities or US national team activities. High school sporting activities under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) must abide by NJSIAA protocols, which shall consider state Health Department guidance, and per Executive Order No. 149, may not resume before June 30. Youth sports summer camps, which are permitted to open July 6, must follow camp standards (CLICK HERE) in addition to the organized sports guidance.

Mercer County has reported, as of June 17, 2020, there have been 12 new cases for a total of 7,393 confirmed COVID-19 Cases to date, and 1 additional death for a total, sadly, of 523 deaths in Mercer County. All active cases are either at home self-isolating or admitted to the hospital. The State of New Jersey today reported 277 additional Confirmed COVID-19 Cases for a current total of 167,703 cases, and 42 additional deaths for a total of 12,769 COVID-19 related deaths statewide. For all further information and data related to COVID-19 cases, go to the New Jersey official COVID-19 dashboard (CLICK HERE).

It is important that everyone continue practicing social distancing, following the advice and directives of health care professionals and government officials, and using good sense, so we can all get through this difficult period together. We need to remember that the most effective and most caring responsible thing we can continue to do for ourselves, our loved ones and our entire community is to continue to do what we are doing.

If you are concerned about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one during the current crisis, NJMentalHealthCares is available 7 days a week from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. at (866) 202-HELP (4357).

For prior updates and resources visit the EAST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP COVID-19 information webpage:
www.east-windsor.nj.us/COVID

Mayor Janice Mironov and Members of Council -- Denise Daniels, Anthony Katawick, Marc Lippman, David Russell, Johnnie Whittington and John Zoller -- Present