School Bus Mask Mandate Dropped: What Does It Mean For NJ Kids?

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey students will no longer have to wear masks on school buses starting March 7. This change falls in line with new guidance released by the Center for Disease Control and Protection on Friday.

Effective Feb. 25, the CDC announced it "does not require wearing of masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems, including early care and education/childcare programs."

Gov. Phil Murphy previously announced the mask mandate in New Jersey schools was to be lifted on March 7. Now the lift is being extended to school buses.

"School districts should continue to require masking on buses until March 7, when the state's in-school mandate ends. We are pleased that the federal government has taken action that will align bus protocol with the mask requirement for New Jersey schools," said Murphy spokeswoman Alyana Alfaro.

Prior to this new guidance from the CDC, NJ school kids still had to mask up on the bus to and from school. Read More: NJ Kids Still Have To Wear Masks On Buses Even After March 7

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