New Jersey is keeping its indoor mask mandate, said Governor Phil Murphy at a recent press briefing.
“The majority of New Jerseyans are still unvaccinated, and keeping this mandate in place in public settings protects you, your family, essential workers, and our entire community,” tweeted Murphy. The governor’s order makes the Garden State one of a handful of states that are not adopting the CDC’s latest guidance, which permits vaccinated people to remove their face mask while indoors in public spaces.
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However, Murphy did announce that the state is making tremendous progress in its fight against COVID-19. As a result, Murphy issued an executive order that lifts New Jersey’s outdoor mask mandate. The executive order goes into effect immediately.
Health officials in New Jersey had set a goal of vaccinating 70% of the state’s adults by the end of June. Currently, only 53% of the state’s 6.9 million adults have been fully vaccinated.
NJ schools to return to in-person learning by fall
In addition to the new mask guidelines, Murphy said that schools will be required to provide full-day, in-person instruction, beginning in the fall.
“With our health metrics trending decisively in the right direction, the significant progress we have made in our vaccination effort, and vaccines now available to those as young as 12, we are in a position to get our students back into the classroom full-time come fall,” said Murphy.
Remote learning will only be permitted in the event that there’s a localized outbreak or other emergency.
Murphy also nixed the state’s travel quarantine. Residents returning to the state and travelers visiting the state are no longer required to quarantine upon arrival.
