A day after shuttering numerous businesses and restricting restaurants across New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy announced he is now ordering all of the state’s indoor shopping malls to close until further notice, starting at 8 p.m. Tuesday, to help battle the spread of the coronavirus.

Murphy said indoor and outdoor amusement parks and amusement centers in the state also must close, after announcing the state’s total number of coronavirus cases surged to 267 as of Tuesday afternoon.

Those locations include bowling alleys, zoos, aquariums, arcades, carnivals, fairs, theme parks, water parks, children’s play places, funplexes, and places with amusement rides, according to the executive order the governor signed.

Technically, some parts of malls don’t have to close. The order says stores and restaurants with separate entrances from the mall’s main indoor shopping areas can remain open.

But those stores must be closed between 8 p.m and 5 a.m. and adhere to the state’s social distancing guidelines requiring fewer than 50 people at any gathering. And like other eateries in the state, those restaurants can offer only takeout or delivery. No dining in is allowed.

“This is how we’ll be able to stay strong throughout this emergency, and how we will emerge from it stronger and more prepared for the long-term,” Murphy said during an afternoon coronavirus briefing at his office in Trenton.

Outdoor strip malls are not included in the order, the governor’s office said — though they have to adhere to 8 p.m. closings and distancing guidelines.

Other non-essential retail, recreation, and entertainment businesses that have not already been ordered to close may remain open as long as they stick to those stipulations, Murphy said.

The order also does not apply to public parks and open recreation areas.

The mall and amusement closings are the latest in a string of emergency measures Murphy has ordered in the last two days that are significantly reshaping New Jerseyans’ lives during the pandemic.

On Monday, Murphy ordered all movie theaters, casinos, gyms, fitness centers, and performing arts centers in New Jersey to close indefinitely. He also banned indoor dining at restaurants and bars, though takeout and delivery is still allowed.

But shopping malls are an especially iconic part of the Garden State’s business and cultural landscape. New Jersey has more than 25 of them.

Murphy said Monday that malls could remain open, as long as they closed at 8 p.m. and kept social distancing precautions.

That lasted only a day.

“It just felt like, sleeping on it overnight, the indoor malls were an exposure for us,” Murphy said during an during an interview Tuesday evening on News 12.

The retail closings are expected to causes businesses to lose significant revenue, as well as cut jobs and hours.

But Murphy says the goal is to limit human interaction — especially in places with large crowds — to keep the virus from spreading further and lessen the pressure on the state’s health care centers, hopefully saving lives.

“The steps we’re taking have short-term disruptions and short-term pain," the governor said during an interview with PBS’ Christiane Amanpour on Tuesday. “But the alternative is completely unacceptable.”

People weren't taking the #coronavirus seriously enough at first, says New Jersey @GovMurphy:



"Bars were so packed... anecdotally people couldn't get in, and at same time you couldn't find a roll of toilet paper in the entire darn state.....we had to take dramatic steps." pic.twitter.com/13TeAWYlzW — Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) March 17, 2020

New Jersey has also closed all schools and is strongly encouraging people refrain from non-essential travel between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.

During an interview Tuesday with CNBC, Murphy did not rule out instituting a stay-at-home — or lockdown — mandate in the state.

“Everything is on the table,” the governor said. “We are trying like heck to get out ahead of this. That is certainly an option if we don’t think we’re succeeding in flattening the curve (of cases).”

New Jersey Governor @GovMurphy says "everything is on the table" when it comes to tackling the coronavirus outbreak pic.twitter.com/B8QJNNt1w5 — CNBC's Closing Bell (@CNBCClosingBell) March 17, 2020

Murphy announced at least 89 new coronavirus cases since Monday afternoon. He announced the state’s third death from the virus Monday night.

He said officials expect cases to continue to rise in the coming days.

“Clearly, this is an evolving reality,” Murphy said.

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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

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