The COVID-19 public health emergency in New Jersey has officially ended.

Governor Phil Murphy Legislative and executive orders were signed on Friday Ended the COVID-19 public health emergency in the state, calling the measure “a clear and decisive step on the road to normalization.”

Murphy said: “The past 15 months have been a challenge. I thank all New Jersey people who stayed at home, wore masks, took preventive measures to control this virus, and were vaccinated for getting us to this point.”

Most administrative orders issued by Murphy in response to public health emergencies will expire in early July.

However, unless the governor revises or revokes it, the 14 pandemic-related executive orders will remain in effect for the remainder of 2021. These orders include allowing restaurants to continue to provide food and beverages to customers in expanded outdoor spaces, New Jersey’s ban on evictions and foreclosures, and the state’s suspension of all utility closures.

The state will still be allowed to issue orders, directives, and exemptions related to COVID-19 vaccination and testing efforts, implementation of CDC recommendations, local health department coordination, and other aspects of New Jersey’s recovery from the pandemic. This power under the Emergency Health Powers Act is valid until January 2022, and can be extended for 90 days if the state legislature passes a simultaneous resolution.

In addition, any administrative orders, instructions or exemptions issued by the state health department regarding COVID-19 vaccination and testing in accordance with public health emergencies will also be valid until January 2022. If the legislature passes a parallel resolution, this can also be extended by 90 days.

Civil and criminal immunity provided to healthcare professionals and facilities, as well as existing regulatory exemptions involving staffing ratios, overtime, shifts, and vacation time, will expire on September 1. The civil exemption for healthcare professionals only lasts after September 1 for those who manage COVID-19 vaccination and testing.

The public health emergency in New Jersey took effect when the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020. According to the Emergency Health Power Act, Murphy must extend a public health emergency every 30 days to prevent its expiration.

Murphy and the Democratic leadership in the state legislature Said last month They are enacting legislation to eliminate the COVID-19 public health emergency in New Jersey in June, while also providing the state with the necessary resources to manage its coronavirus vaccination and recovery efforts.

New Jersey’s public health emergency is about to expire All indoor party restrictions ended on Friday. New Jersey’s indoor and Outdoor mask instructions, and also Most COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the state, Lifted last month.

The state has just completed more than 92% of its goal of fully vaccinating 70% of the eligible population (4.7 million people) by the end of June.

More than 4.33 million residents were fully vaccinated with COVID-19 and 8.8 or more vaccines.According to reports, 1 million doses have been injected State’s Coronavirus Dashboard.

New Jersey recorded 430 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, a drop of nearly 97% since the beginning of April. On Friday, the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in New Jersey fell below 500 for the first time in eight months, a 78% drop since early April.