Public Health Emergency Recedes: N.J. Executive Orders Set to Expire within 30-Days

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Under Legislation signed by Governor Phil Murphy today, most pandemic executive orders will expire within 30-days, although the Governor will retain some powers to keep responding to the COVID pandemic for the next eight months.  Executive Order 103 that declared a public health emergency has been terminated effective immediately.  Orders applying to the workplace that direct general COVID-19 mitigation measures regarding face coverings, social distancing, cannot be more restrictive than the recommendations provided in the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines

Relevant to the state’s employers, Executive Orders 192, 242 and 243 will expire on July 4, 2021.

Executive Order 192 – October 29, 2020 – established extensive mitigation measures for employers, including reduced staffing, working from home, medical screenings, testing, quarantine mask wearing and social distancing.

Order 242 modified Order 192 for businesses serving the public.

Order 243 permitted employers to customize policies for vaccinated and unvaccinated workers.

CDC guidance recommends measures for people who are fully vaccinated. Among other things, fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing masks or physically distancing.

OSHA is reviewing the CDC guidance and is expected to formulate compatible recommendations.  

Join John Sarno, president of the Employers Association of New Jersey, for a one-hour webinar to make sense of all this on June 21.  Details & Registration.