Ocean County St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2022
February 6, 2022Michael Barozzie, Director of Children’s and Music Ministry, at the Presbyterian Church of Toms River Has Died
February 7, 2022
Governor Phil Murphy is expected to end one of his most disputed epidemic measures as soon as today.
Murphy will lift the school mask mandate on or around March 7, according to the New York Times.
Following rising to pandemic highs after the Christmas and New Year's holidays, COVID measures have dropped to near pandemic lows in the previous two weeks.
According to Murphy, the adjustment will go into effect in the second week of March as temperatures warm up and ventilation becomes practical.
In recent days, Democratic governors in New York and Connecticut hinted that school mask mandates would be lifted as well.
The lifting of the mask mandate, according to Murphy, is a "huge step toward normalcy."
The mask mandate would be lifted for students and staff who are currently forced to wear masks in all school buildings.
Many see the move as a step toward COVID becoming a commonplace part of life in New Jersey and elsewhere. Murphy predicted two weeks ago that we'd have to learn to live with coronavirus. "We're not going to manage this to zero," Murphy admitted on
NBC's Meet the Press.
The mask issue has caused significant debate in school districts across the state, resulting in heated exchanges at school board sessions. Over the last two years, parents have staged dozens of protests.
Governor Murphy is scheduled to hold his weekly briefing at 1 p.m. Monday in
Trenton.
Ortley Beach Fire Destroys Homes
