Eight Newark rest restaurants have been summoned to rent after employees were caught not wearing masks during the first two days of Mayor Ras Baraka’s recommended 10-day lockdown, officials said Saturday.
Rest restaurant rent includes both fast food and take-out eateries, according to a police spokesman.
“The business showed complete disregard for spreading the virus,” Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said in a statement. “All of these citations have been found not wearing masks and other (personal protective equipment) while serving customers.”
Residents ’request to stay in place began Wednesday and lasts until Dec. and follows government Phil Murphy’s executive order earlier this month to reduce the limit on both indoor and outdoor combinations in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus.
“While we strongly support our business owners, unfortunately there are still some who have refused to comply with the governor’s order,” Ambrose said. “It is our responsibility to hold those businesses accountable for their actions.”
While non-essential businesses in Newark must close by 8 p.m., essential merchants that sell food may remain open later.
Essex County officials reported Saturday that a total of 15,636 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Newark since the epidemic began in March. That number includes 34 additional cases on Friday. The virus has killed 7,008 people in the state’s largest city.
Jeff Goldam at cannot be reached [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter JGoldmanNJ. Search NJ.com on Facebook.
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