“Mask no more, we have lifted these mandates,” Murphy noted during his call-in TV show when a caller said he was “deeply concerned” about the move. “It was very important decision. We did not take it lightly.”Though New Jersey hasn’t had a statewide indoor mask mandate for nearly two years, face coverings were still required in all health care facilities. The state Department of Health has overseen the mask requirements in those settings.Now, mask rules in health care facilities may vary across New Jersey because the health department is following federal guidelines — which haven’t called for universal making for eight months but still recommend face coverings in areas with significant level of community spread.Facilities also can decide to install a mask mandate on their own and people can still choose to wear a face covering. Murphy noted the move comes as COVID-19 numbers have dropped significantly in New Jersey and beyond. The state reported another 382 cases across the state Friday and no new confirmed deaths, while the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers all of the state’s 21 counties to have “low” community levels of the virus.
New Jersey's statewide requirement for people to wear masks in all healthcare facilities has been lifted, according to Governor Phil Murphy, as he defended the decision during his call-in TV show on Monday. The governor emphasized that this was not a decision that was made lightly, and that it was an important step in the state's ongoing efforts to combat COVID-19.
While New Jersey has not had a statewide indoor mask mandate for nearly two years, face coverings were still required in all healthcare facilities under the oversight of the state Department of Health. However, now the mask rules in healthcare facilities across the state may vary as the health department follows federal guidelines, which haven't mandated universal masking for the past eight months but still recommend face coverings in areas with significant levels of community spread.
Healthcare facilities also have the autonomy to decide whether or not they want to implement a mask mandate, and individuals can still choose to wear a face covering if they so choose. Governor Murphy pointed out that this decision comes as COVID-19 cases have dropped significantly in New Jersey and beyond, with the state reporting only 382 cases across the state on Friday, and no new confirmed deaths. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently considers all of New Jersey's 21 counties to have "low" community levels of the virus.
It remains to be seen how this decision will impact the ongoing fight against COVID-19 in New Jersey, and whether or not it will have any effect on the state's vaccination efforts. However, Governor Murphy and the state's health department will no doubt continue to closely monitor the situation and adjust their policies accordingly to ensure the health and safety of all residents.
