Plans to allow indoor dining to resume with reduced capacity in New Jersey’s restaurants Thursday will not happen.

“We had planned to loosen restrictions this week. However, after COVID-19 spikes in other states driven by, in part, the return of indoor dining, we have decided to postpone indoor dining indefinitely,” Murphy said.

New York City is also considering delaying indoor dining.

“We have been cautious throughout every step of our restart,” Murphy said. “We’ve always said that we would not hesitate to hit pause if needed to safeguard public health. This is one of those times.”

Murphy said the state also moved to pause indoor dining because of what had been in some establishments across the state, including overcrowding, a complete disregard for social distancing, and very few, if any, face coverings.

“I recognize that there are many more establishments whose owners, managers, and customers have been responsible, who have lived up not just to the guidance we’ve released, but to the spirit of community in helping to protect patrons and residents,” Murphy added.

Outdoor dining will continue to be allowed; here’s where you can dine outdoors locally.