Although Gov. Phil Murphy has often said nearly all non-essential businesses have obeyed orders to stay closed during the coronavirus pandemic, occasional offenders continue to crop up — including a club in Plainfield officials say was caught on Saturday serving alcohol to customers.
The owner of the Tequila Club claimed he thought patrons waiting for take-out orders were permitted to order booze, according to the state Attorney General’s Office.
When cops entered the business Saturday night, they said they found three people drinking at the bar and others seated at tables.
The governor last month ordered bars and restaurants to close for all but take-out or delivery as part of sweeping statewide restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. Murphy has repeatedly referred to those who violate the near-lockdown orders as “knuckleheads," but said they are the exception as most residents have observed the rules.
On Sunday, officials announced 3,915 new positive COVID-19 tests and 132 additional deaths to push the state totals to 85,301 and 4,202.
Thousands have recovered thought an exact number is not known. The state had 7,495 patients hospitalized for coronavirus or suspected of having the virus as of 10 p.m. Saturday, down from a high of 8,293 on Tuesday. Of those hospitalized, 1,940 are in critical or intensive care and 1,628 are on ventilators.