Governor Murphy recently lifted the statewide mask mandate required for all people in any health care facilities, starting April 13th, 2023. Facilities can still have their own mask mandates and people can still elect to wear face coverings in public, as well. Murphy noted Covid 19 dropped significantly in New Jersey, with 382 cases across the state on Friday and no new deaths. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that they consider all of the state’s 21 counties to have low levels of the virus. Several other states, including neighboring New York, have all stopped mask mandates 

The governor signed an executive order that lifted the remaining Covid-19 mask mandates, implemented more than three years ago. Unvaccinated workers in healthcare centers will no longer be required to take Covid tests. In New Jersey, 78% of residents are fully vaccinated and nearly 40% have had a booster shot. Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to end the national pandemic emergency order and sent it to Joe Biden’s desk. Mask rules in health care settings may vary across the state, due to federal guidelines still recommending facial coverings if levels of spread in the community are high. 

According to NJ.com, Murphy noted Monday during his call-in TV show when a caller said he was “deeply concerned” about the move. “It was a very important decision. We did not take it lightly.”

Garden State Republicans are calling for Murphy to lift New Jersey’s state of emergency. Sen. Mike Testa (R-Cumberland) said in a statement on the state website that the governor needs to recognize the pandemic is over and “give up his emergency powers.”

Regardless of the laws given, if you feel like you need a mask for the safety of yourself or others you are always welcome to do so. If not, that’s alright too. Just make sure to keep yourself healthy and safe.