The County of Cape May Department of Health is reporting 42 new positive cases among County residents.  Currently, 1485 County residents are now off quarantine.  

Total positive cases of COVID-19 infection in Cape May County is now 2186 including 99 deaths. 

**The daily reported total number of positive cases includes results from specimens collected on several dates.

What to Expect at Outdoor Restaurants and Bars

Establishments must institute the following policies:

• Limit seating to a maximum of 8 customers per table - unless from an immediate family or the same household – and arrange seating to achieve a minimum distance of 6 feet between parties;
• Encourage reservations for greater control of customer traffic;
• Cordon off any indoor or outdoor dance floors to the public;
• Require customers to provide a phone number if making a reservation to facilitate contact tracing;
• Consider alternatives to paper/physical menus (whiteboards, electronic menus);
• Provide a hand sanitizer station for customers; and
• Require customers who wish to enter the indoor portion of the establishment to wear a face covering, unless the customer has a medical reason for not doing so or is a child under two years of age;
• Require that groups stay 6 feet apart, even in areas where groups are not assigned seating;
• Adhere to all other health and safety protocols in DOH Executive Directive No. 20-019.

Note: Areas with a fixed roof, if two sides are open, comprising over 50% of their total wall space, may operate under rules for outdoor dining under Executive Order No. 163.

Effective Thursday, November 12, individual, fully enclosed dining bubbles – limited to one group of diners each and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized between uses – may be set-up for outside use.

What to Expect at Indoor Restaurants and Bars

The following summarizes some of the protocols contained in DOH's Health and Safety Standards for Indoor Dining, EO 183, EO 192, and EO 194. However, this summary is not a replacement for fully complying with the terms of the health and safety standards , EO 183, EO 192, and EO 194, and businesses should read the full guidance carefully to ensure full compliance.
 Food and beverage establishments must:

• Limit the number of patrons in indoor areas to 25 percent of the food or beverage establishment's indoor capacity, excluding the food or beverage establishment's employees;
• Limit seating to a maximum of eight (8) customers per table (unless they are from a family from the same household) and arrange seating to achieve a minimum distance of six feet (6 ft) between parties; effective Thursday, November 12, tables may be placed closer than 6 feet, but only if they are separated by dividing barriers;
• Require customers to only consume food or beverages while seated;
• Require patrons to wear face coverings while inside the indoor premises of the food or beverage establishment, except when eating or drinking at their table;
• For food or beverage establishments with table service, require that customers be seated in order to place orders;
• For food or beverage establishments with table service, require that wait staff bring food or beverages to seated customers; and
• Keep doors and windows open where possible and utilize fans to improve ventilation.
• Per Executive Order No. 183, smoking, including vaping, is permitted indoors only when otherwise permitted by State law.
• Effective Thursday, November 12, barside seating will prohibited at all hours.
• Effective Thursday, November 12, all restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges that serve food and drink must close their indoor premises for business by 10 pm each day and cannot open until at least 5 am the following day.

Stay up to date on the current situation as it evolves. Some reliable sources are New Jersey Poison Information and Education System Hotline at 211 or 1-800-962-1253, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov, World Health Organization at www.who.int, New Jersey Department of Health at COVID19.nj.gov. For additional information visit Cape May County Department of Health at www.cmchealth.net and also like us on Facebook.