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Dear NJBIA Manufacturer:

Chris Emigholz

Christopher Emigholz, NJBIA Vice President of Government Affairs

NJBIA has been hearing similar questions from multiple manufacturers concerned about how Governor Murphy’s COVID-19/social distancing restrictions may impact them and their potential late shifts that fall within the restricted 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. window. The good news is that as of March 16, the restrictions do not seem to directly impact manufacturers.

The Governor’s Executive Order #104 specified that the restricted time closure only applied to non-essential retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses, and to this point, nothing has been said about closing manufacturing businesses. Even the order’s restriction on gatherings of 50 or more excludes “factories, assemblages for the purpose of industrial or manufacturing work.”

Additionally, the governor clarified that the state is only strongly discouraging travel from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. He also said that a travel ban or martial law is not in place. Any late-shift employees can certainly drive at those off-hours, but they should be wary that the state is discouraging that.

Also for your information, I included the other key points from Governor Murphy’s Executive Order below.

Please visit NJBIA’s Coronavirus Resource page if you need further assistance. Feel free to contact Christopher Emigholz, NJBIA’s Vice President of Government, Vice President of Government Affairs at cemigholz@njbia.org if you have any additional questions.

Key points in Gov. Murphy’s COVID-19/Social Distancing Executive Order:

  • All gatherings of persons in the State of New Jersey shall be limited to 50 persons or fewer, with limited exceptions;
  • All public, private, and parochial preschool programs, and elementary and secondary schools, including charter and renaissance schools, will be closed beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and remain closed as long as the order remains in effect;
  • Institutions of higher education will cease all in-person instruction beginning on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, and shall cease such in-person instruction as long as the order remains in effect;
  • The Commissioner of Education shall continue working with each public, private, and parochial school to ensure students are able to continue their education through appropriate home instruction
  • The Secretary of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Education shall take all necessary actions to ensure all students eligible for free or reduced meals will continue to receive the services necessary to meet nutritional needs during closures;
  • All casinos, concert venues, nightclubs, racetracks, gyms, fitness centers and classes, movie theaters, and performing arts centers will be closed to the public beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020 at 8:00 p.m. and remain closed as long as this order remains in effect;
  • All other non-essential retail, recreational, and entertainment businesses must cease daily operations from 8:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.; and
  • All restaurant establishments, with or without a liquor or limited brewery license, are limited to offering delivery and/or take out-services only.

Note: Please be advised local ordinances may be varied and adhered to as well.


Christopher Emigholz, Vice President – Government Affairs
New Jersey Business & Industry Association | Tel: 609-858-9512

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