New outdoor restrictions go into effect in New Jersey
New Jersey COVID-19 live updates, news and information
TRENTON, New Jersey (WPVI) -- A new restriction takes effect today in New Jersey.
The outdoor gathering limit will be capped at 150 people. This is reduced from the previous limit of 500.
Outdoor weddings, memorials, religious ceremonies and political events are not included in the new executive order.
Murphy's limits on indoor gatherings went into effect earlier last week.
With Thanksgiving just three days away, some people in New Jersey are keeping it quiet this year.
"Just to stay home. Most things got canceled," said Alyssa Horn, of Maple Shade.
The state's latest weekly COVID-19 activity report puts most of the state in the "high" range, with Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties still in the "moderate" range.
If any regions get to the "very high" level, remote learning is required for schools.
Cherry Hill Schools preemptively decided to go fully virtual starting November 30, after just two weeks of hybrid learning.
"A lot of the kids that I know are kind of annoyed with the back and forth," said Taylla Tretheway, a senior at Cherry Hill East High School.
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Murphy signs expanded stadium raffle bill amid coronavirus
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a measure Wednesday expanding charitable groups' ability to sell raffle tickets online based around sporting events after lawmakers addressed his concerns that the original bill was too close to internet gambling.
The Democratic governor last month conditionally vetoed a bill aimed at helping charities' fundraising during the coronavirus pandemic.
In vetoing it, Murphy noted that the original bill would have allowed such online sales long after a virus pandemic keeping people away from stadiums has ended.
Lawmakers on Monday made several changes to the bill, including limiting the ability to sell tickets online only during periods of a declared health emergency, and Murphy signed the revised bill two days later.
Because the coronavirus pandemic has eliminated in-person attendance at large sporting events in the state, some legislators proposed expanding the law to let people buy tickets to such raffles over the internet, regardless of whether they were in a stadium or not.
While lauding the intent of the bill, Murphy sent it back to lawmakers with recommended changes including requiring the same sort of geolocation technology that New Jersey's casinos and racetracks use to ensure that a person making an online casino or sports wager is physically located within the state's boundaries.
He also recommended that winners of remote contests be required to pick up their prizes at the stadium or at the headquarters of the charitable group that sponsored the raffle, to ensure that the necessary verifications take place, another change that was made to the bill before he signed it
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