Governors of NY, NJ, CT announce plan to allow boatyards, marinas to open

The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut said Saturday that they're working together to allow marinas, boatyards and marine manufacturers to open to cater to personal use in each of the three states.

In a statement released by the governors' offices Saturday, they said the marinas and other facilities would be allowed to open "as long as strict social distancing and sanitization protocols are followed."

The statement said that chartered watercraft services or rentals will not be allowed, and restaurant activity at these sites must be limited to takeout or delivery only, under restrictions already in place in the three states.

"Throughout this pandemic, we've worked closely with our friends in neighboring states to implement a uniform regional approach to reducing the spread of the virus," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement. "Aligning our polices in this area is another example of that strong partnership, and will help ensure there is no confusion or 'state shopping' when it comes to marinas and boatyards."

“We’ve committed to working with our regional partners throughout this crisis to align our policies when and where appropriate,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “A unified approach is the most effective way to alleviate confusion for the residents of our states during the ongoing public health emergency.”

It comes as questions remain about what will be open for recreation as warmer temperatures arrive while the tri-state area continues to cope with the COVID-19 crisis.

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