Governor Orders Masks Be Worn By All Bus Passengers and Drivers

During his Saturday coronavirus media briefing, Governor Phil Murphy announced he has signed an Executive Order requiring that all passengers and drivers on NJ Transit buses and private bus carriers must wear protective masks to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.  In addition, buses can only be filled to 50 percent capacity.

Drivers of buses operating in New Jersey must be provided with gloves by their employer as well.

The Governor’s new guideline will go into effect at 8 p.m. on Monday night.

The Executive Order also requires that any customer entering a restaurant to pick up take out orders, plus the restaurant’s employees, must also wear face masks or face coverings.

The latest statistics, as of Saturday’s briefing, show 7,618 New Jersey residents still hospitalized with coronavirus complications.  Of those patients, 1,746 remain in critical or intensive care, with 1,650 on ventilators.  251 additional New Jerseyans had passed away since the Governor’s media briefing on Friday afternoon, with 3,599 residents having tested positive for the virus.

Murphy declared on Saturday that the pace of the virus was “slowing,” and there are definite signs that the curve is flattening.  However, the Governor continued to stress the importance of social distancing and remaining smart on the way people conduct themselves.