Beginning Oct. 27, all stores except supermarkets, pharmacies, and gas stations must close at 8 p.m., announced Mayor Ras Baraka Monday. A day earlier, the largest city in the state had recorded 101 new cases bringing the total to 10,087, more than any other municipality in Essex County combined.  

Under the new COVID restrictions, beauty salons, nail salons, and barbershops can only accept customers by appointment. Gyms and health clubs must close for half an hour each hour for sanitizing.

Restaurants must end indoor dining by 8 p.m. and outdoor dining by 11 p.m. They will be allowed to deliver and take out with no indoor ordering or lines. Restaurants must also take the temperature of all patrons coming inside and ask them if they have been in touch with anyone with COVID-19.

The city will reasses the curfew and decide by Nov. 10 whether to ease restrictions.

"This is not the first time COVID-19 has threatened our city and its residents at this magnitude and once again, we will meet this challenge with determination and guided by data," said Baraka. "We are Newark strong and can get through this together. We did it once before and we can do it again."