Effective today, May 19, 2021, both New York and New Jersey have lifted the capacity limits for businesses that were imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of the previous 50% capacity limit that applied to most businesses, capacity limits will now be governed only by social distancing requirements.
Both states have also revised their respective COVID-19 restrictions in light of the recently released recommendations from the CDC concerning fully vaccinated individuals.
Under the new CDC recommendations, fully vaccinated individuals:
- do not need to wear masks or socially distance;
- may resume domestic travel and are not required to test for COVID-19 before traveling or quarantine after traveling;
- do not need to test for COVID-19 or quarantine following a known exposure to COVID-19, if asymptotic; and
- do not need to perform routine health screenings, if feasible.
New York has fully adopted the CDC’s recommendations, thus, fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear masks in indoor or outdoor settings, with limited exceptions such as in medical facilities. Businesses may still, however, require individuals to wear masks regardless of vaccination status. New York businesses that will not require masks for fully vaccinated employees and individuals will need to decide whether or not to require proof of vaccination from employees or visitors.
New Jersey, unlike New York, has only lifted the mask mandate in outdoor settings. In indoor settings individuals are still required to wear masks, subject to existing exceptions such as when social distanced at workstations or in private offices, or while eating or drinking at restaurants. Governor Murphy has indicated that the indoor mask mandate may be lifted in the near future, so New Jersey businesses should start considering whether they will require masks when the restriction is lifted and, if not, whether to require proof of vaccination from employees or visitors.
Even though the COVID-19 restrictions imposed upon businesses are being lifted, they continue to evolve. If you have questions about your business’s COVID-19 obligations, please contact us at (201) 345-5412 / (646) 503-5358 or through our online scheduling system to set up a complimentary consultation.