New outdoor restrictions went into effect at 6 a.m., as Gov. Phil Murphy announced that outdoor gatherings will be lowered from 150 to 25.

Wedding ceremonies, funerals, memorial services and religious and political activities are exempt. Social distancing and mask wearing is still required for outdoor gatherings.

According to the governor speaking this morning on CNN, it may not be the last of the restrictions. 

“If we see transmission, we will try to surgically strike as best we can,” says Gov. Murphy. “We had restaurants late at night turning into sort of basically clubs and so we said no more indoor dining after 10 p.m. Those are the types of steps will take will leave everything on the table, but at the moment, that’s where we are.”

The governor’s decision to reduce outdoor gatherings comes as a way to control the increase in positive COVID-19 cases.

“I don’t see any reason to reduce the number of gathering,” says De Ghosh, of Edison.

Gov. Murphy said recently, “As we battle the second wave of COVID-19, we must continue to take all steps necessary to prevent needless infections, hospitalizations, and deaths from this deadly virus. While there is hope on the horizon in the form of several vaccines, in the interim, we are taking these steps today to protect our communities."

“You know, I think it’s getting scary and I think what has to be done, has to be done,” says Juliann Satz, of Edison.

The gathering limit coincides with the ban on indoor sports practices and competitions for youth and adult sports, which went into effect Saturday morning and will last through at least Saturday, Jan. 2.