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Masks Required on School Bus
According to a Murphy spokesman, NJ schoolchildren will continue to be required to wear masks on school buses unless the Department of Transportation modifies its standards.
Masks will be optional in many New Jersey school districts beginning March 7, the day Governor Phil Murphy's statewide mandate ends — but kids must still wear masks on the school bus.
That's according to the latest from Governor Murphy's office, which announced Wednesday that, unless the federal Department of Transportation modifies its standards, NJ students will continue to be required to wear masks on the bus to and from school.
"Federal masking restrictions apply to school buses," stated Murphy spokeswoman Alyana Alfaro, citing this FAQ from the US Department of Transportation.
"Yes, school bus operators and passengers, including those employed by public school districts, are required to wear masks as defined by a
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order... the CDC states that passengers and drivers on school buses must wear masks unless the driver is the only person on board.
A spokesman for the federal Department of Transportation stated on Thursday that the
FAQ is still valid.
The Department of Transportation stated that it is solely following the CDC's rule from January 2021, which mandates the use of masks on all types of public transportation, including buses (including school buses), subways, trains, and airplanes.
