Newark mayor calls for mandatory curfew, closure of non-essential businesses for at least 2 weeks
Updated 9:48 PM; Today 7:16 PM
753
shares
By
Rebecca Panico | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka called for a mandatory curfew and the closure of all non-essential businesses — with exceptions for restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations — for at least two weeks to stifle the spread of
coronavirus.
The directive comes on the heels of the city’s first fatality from coronavirus. The man was in his 40s, had underlying conditions and died after testing positive for COVID-19, Baraka said.
“Although he had underlying health issues, he was young - just in his early forties,” Baraka said in a
virtual town hall Wednesday. “So we all have to take this very, very serious. Newark had its first fatality in a coronavirus case.”
The mayor said he imposed an 8 p.m. curfew within the borders of the city effective immediately. The restrictions would not apply to people coming or going to work or in emergency situations.
All non-essential businesses will close at 8 p.m. Wednesday and not reopen until at least April 1, Baraka said. Non-essential businesses include salons and retail stores, the mayor said.
The only businesses that can remain open are supermarkets, pharmacies and gas stations and can only be patronized after 8 p.m. for emergencies. Laundromats, hotels, banks, auto mechanics, wireless/cellphone retail stores can also remain open.
Restaurants will have to close at 8 p.m. each day and can reopen on a daily basis. However, restaurants may only deliver and cannot have customers sit inside, a city spokeswoman said.