New Jersey State Police Superintendent Col. Patrick Callahan says that so-called “wave parades” are allowed under Gov. Phil Murphy’s social distancing executive orders.

There was some confusion over the weekend after Callahan released a letter to the Department of Education and nonpublic schools, saying in part, “all in-person ceremonies, including graduations, all parades, including 'wave parades' that invite people to gather at a certain location, should be canceled or postponed.”

Callahan clarified the remarks Monday during the governor’s COVID-19 press briefing. He said that state police would not issue anyone a ticket if they wanted to celebrate someone’s special day with a caravan of cars. But he said that people should not gather outside in groups to watch the parade go by.

“It's a great gesture to give that sense of solidarity but when there's 50 people standing on top of each other on the curb of a hospital or in front of a high school, that's when the problem comes in,” Callahan said. “So, if people wanted to get into cars and drive to every graduate at a high school across town and that graduate and mom and dad were on the front porch or front lawn, that is certainly OK.”

The belief that the parades were canceled prompted a backlash. Many high school graduations will be taking place virtually or postponed until later this summer. Murphy announced earlier this month that schools would remain closed for the rest of the school year and all learning would be done virtually.

The governor said that he might have some details soon about a reopening date as there is continued pressure to reopen the state’s economy.