New Jersey Halts Construction Except for Schools, Hospitals, and Other Projects

On Wednesday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced the indefinite halt to non-essential construction, effective April 10 at 8 p.m. The new executive order tightens restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Every decision we make based on data, science and facts suggests that we need to continue to stay vigilant; if anything, more vigilant,” Murphy said at the news briefing.

Murphy included exemptions for construction projects that include schools, hospitals, affordable housing, transportation, utility work, emergency repairs, and individual housing sites that can continue under strict social distancing guidelines.

You can find a list of exemptions to the executive order here. The one that pertains to educational facilities states: “Projects involving pre-K-12 schools, including but not limited to projects in Schools Development Authority districts, and projects involving higher education facilities.”

During the announcement, the governor reported New Jersey has at least 47,437 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and at least 1,504 deaths from the virus.

In addition to the new restrictions on construction, Murphy placed new restrictions on shopping and moved the state’s primary elections from June 2 to July 7.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • DFW-Area District Opens New Replacement Middle School

    The Eagle Mountain-Saginaw Independent School District near Fort Worth, Texas, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new replacement middle school campus, according to a news release. The new facility for Wayside Middle School, originally established in 1964, was built on the site of the former district administration building and funded through Bond Proposition A in 2023.

  • golden trophies with falling confetti

    Spaces4Learning Launches 2026 New Product Awards

    Spaces4Learning is happy to announce that we’re now accepting entries for the 2026 New Product Awards! The awards program recognizes the outstanding product development achievements of manufacturers and suppliers whose products or services are considered particularly noteworthy.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Wisconsin District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    The School District of La Crosse in La Crosse, Wis., recently broke ground on a new elementary school that will consolidate the students and staff of two existing schools, according to local news. Funding for the school comes from a $53-million referendum approved in 2024.