NJBIA Chief Government Affairs Officer Chrissy Buteas
While Friday’s expiration of mask mandates and social distancing rules for those who have been vaccinated is long-awaited welcome news for public-facing businesses, NJBIA is telling Gov. Phil Murphy and policymakers that more needs to be done for non-public facing businesses.
Executive Order 242, announced by Gov. Murphy on Monday, maintains masking requirements and social distancing rules for places like office buildings, warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
“Obviously, it is good news that our restaurants, bars and retail shops can fully reopen after a year of restrictions,” said NJBIA Chief Government Affairs Officer Chrissy Buteas. “But the continuation of mask requirements in these non-public facing businesses, frankly, does not make any sense and continues many burdens.
“If vaccinations are a key measure for the CDC to allow the expiration of these mask mandates and social distancing rules, it would seem employers would have a much better handle of who in their employ have been vaccinated – even more so than the customers who enter public-facing businesses.”
NJBIA is also continuing to sound the alarm on the needed lifting of capacity limits in the childcare industry, particularly as it relates to New Jersey’s current hiring crisis.
“Despite the lifting of restrictions in other areas, capacity limits and distancing rules in the childcare industry remain,” Buteas added. “This makes it increasingly difficult for the childcare industry to serve families as the economy reopens and parents attempt to return to work on a regular basis.
“We are advised that there are waiting lists at many of these facilities, showing the immediate need to address this,” Buteas said.
