BERKELEY, NJ — Religious organizations, fitness businesses and local school districts looking for a graduation venue can use the stage at Veterans Park for free through Labor Day. Berkeley Township council passed the ordinance Friday, as the aforementioned organizations and businesses continue to face coronavirus-related challenges.
Local gyms and fitness centers, religious organizations and the Berkeley and Central Regional School Organizations can apply for permits to use the stage. The Recreation Department will distribute permits on a first-come, first-served basis.
It remains uncertain when Governor Phil Murphy will allow gyms and fitness centers to reopen. Murphy lifted New Jersey’s stay-at-home order Tuesday, paving the way for graduations and indoor and outdoor religious services to occur. Read more: Gov. Murphy Lifts NJ Stay-At-Home Order, Allows Bigger Gatherings
The governor raised to limit on indoor gatherings to 25-percent capacity or 50 people total. For the time being, that doesn’t apply to fitness centers or indoor dining. The limit on outdoor gatherings increased from 25 to 100 and will go up to 250 on June 22 and 500 on July 3.
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Central Regional will hold three high-school graduations but is still working out the details. But junior and senior proms and the eighth-grade promotional exercise were canceled. Read more: Central Regional High School To Hold 3 Graduation Ceremonies
The Ocean County Health Department has reported 689 coronavirus cases and 86 deaths in Berkeley. The department reported only nine new cases Sunday in Ocean County, bringing the area’s total to 9,200 cases.
Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here’s What You Need To Know
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This article originally appeared on the Berkeley Patch