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

  • Designing the Bridge Between Inclusivity and Independence in K–12 Schools

    Fostering independence is fundamental to learning and development for K–12 students. It offers many proven benefits, such as enhanced confidence, problem-solving, decision-making, and social skills. However, this foundational objective loses its impact if it’s not accessible and adaptable to all students. Inclusivity plays a critical role in cultivating independence and healthy autonomy for students, fostering positive student learning outcomes by uniting pedagogy with the physical learning environment.

  • Growing Allied Health Workforce Demands Fueling Greater Need for Higher Education Facilities

    With the demand for healthcare professionals at an all-time high, colleges and universities are challenged with supporting the workforce demands in their own communities. Careers in allied health generally require specific training and/or certification, with some positions requiring degrees, certified credentials, and continuing education.

  • Haws Corporation Marks 120th Anniversary

    Haws Corporation, which provides hydration and emergency safety solutions worldwide, recently announced that the company is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, according to a news release.