EXECUTIVE ORDER SUMMARY
(MEO-21-0010 | DECEMBER 27, 2021)
REQUIRING PROOF OF VACCINATION FOR ENTRANCE INTO CERTAIN INDOOR ESTABLISHMENTS AND FACILITIES
Amid the spike in COVID-19 cases and the recent exponential spread of the Omicron variant, the health and welfare of our community are at great risk.
According to the CDC and medical experts, including our Director of Health and Community Wellness, people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 appear to be protected against the current variants by being less likely to experience serious illness, hospitalization and even death; and people who are not vaccinated are at a greater risk to contract COVID-19.
Therefore, to most importantly help preserve the life, health, and safety of our residents, and to avoid resorting to the more drastic remedy of closing non-essential businesses or re-imposing capacity limits, we must implement a vaccine requirement at certain establishments/venues.
The following is part of MEO-21-0010, ordered by Mayor Ras J. Baraka. The City will continue to monitor the impact that the rise in the COVID-19 positivity rate is having on Newark residents, and will consider the impact and effectiveness of this Order after 30 days.
MANDATORY PROOF OF VACCINATION IS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY INTO THE FOLLOWING ESTABLISHMENTS AND FACILITIES: All New Year’s Eve (December 31, 2021) events/parties that are open to the public.
Effective January 10, 2022, guests, visitors, or customers over five (5) years of age are required to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to enter the following (“Covered Establishments”):
Restaurants, bars and nightclub establishments, taverns, breweries, wineries and distillery
tasting rooms; mixed-use facilities; food courts; fast food and coffee shops; and any similar
dine-in establishment;
Indoor entertainment establishments, including nightclubs, hookah and cigar bars, pool
and billiard halls, concert, live entertainment and sporting venues, movie theatres,
entertainment venues, bowling alleys, and similar venues;
Indoor exercise and recreational establishments, including exercise facilities, dance, yoga
and Pilates studios; facilities used for group fitness and/or exercise classes, and similar
venues;
Indoor event and meeting establishments, including libraries, hotel common rooms,
banquet halls, conference center meeting facilities, convention centers, auditoriums;
shared work facilities;
Indoor spaces in public office buildings where individuals can gather and that are open to
the public such as cafeterias, meeting and/or conference rooms, and auditoriums.
Covered Establishments shall create their own protocol and process to implement the vaccine
mandate set forth in this Executive Order. The Covered Establishments shall use good faith efforts to determine the validity of the proof of vaccination.
ESTABLISHMENTS NOT SUBJECT TO MANDATORY VACCINATION FOR ENTRY REQUIREMENT.
Houses of worship;
Grocery stores/farmer’s markets/food service establishments providing charitable food services;
Pharmacies, medical offices, urgent care centers, or hospitals;
Hardware stores, big box stores and retail establishments where people tend to be in
motion and not standing or seated in close proximity to others for long periods of time;
Private meeting or gathering spaces in residences or office buildings;
Facilities providing essential human services such as warming/cooling centers, day service
facilities for the homeless, shelters serving homeless persons or victims of domestic
violence;
Polling places during elections;
Such other facilities as exempted by the New Jersey Department of Health;
Tire shops, mechanic shops, and gas stations.
If an exempt facility under this Section conducts a non-exempt activity, the vaccine requirement will apply. For example, if a house of worship is rented for a non-religious purpose, the mandatory vaccine requirement applies. If a retail bookstore hosts a seated event, proof of vaccination is required to enter the area where people will be closely congregated for a prolonged time.
INDIVIDUALS EXEMPT FROM VACCINATION ENTRY REQUIREMENTS.
The proof of vaccination for entry requirement does not apply to the following:
Individuals entering a Covered Establishment for a quick and limited purpose (for example,
placing an order for takeout, picking up an order, or making a delivery); or
A person entitled by law to a reasonable accommodation due to a medical condition,
which is supported by a document from a doctor or medical provider.
Covered Establishments shall create their own protocol and process to comply with the Order.
The Covered Establishments are to use good faith efforts to determine the validity of the exemption.
SIGNAGE REQUIREMENT. Any establishment subject to this Order shall prominently post signage at their entrances notifying the public of the mandatory vaccination entry requirement.
TIMING. Effective January 10, 2022 at 6AM, establishments subject to this Order shall verify that entrants ages five (5) years and older have had at least one vaccination shot. Proof of being fully vaccinated will be required effective February 10, 2022 at 6AM.
CONTINUED INDOOR MASK REQUIREMENT. All City residents and visitors over the age of two (2), must wear a mask at all times while indoors at any public facility in the City of Newark.
VIOLATIONS.
Any individual who knowingly violates the mask requirement is subject to fines and penalties.
Any Covered Establishment that refuses to comply is subject to fines and penalties (i.e.
suspension or revocation of licenses, permits, certificates, endorsements or any other City
authorization).
Covered Establishments may deny entry to persons who refuse to wear a mask or refuse to
comply with this Order. Covered Establishments can take appropriate employment actions against employees who endanger themselves or others by violating this Order, or who violate any other requirement issued under the authority of this Executive Order or any other Orders relating to mitigating the spread of COVID-19.
The complete Executive Order is on file with the City Clerk.
Click Here To Download Executive Order MEO-21-0020
