Lawrence Township Now Requires Masks In Municipal Buildings

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ — Visitors to any Lawrence Township municipal building or facility will now have to mask up.

The Township has re-instituted mask-wearing in municipal buildings in all common areas and for all visitors, Township Manager Kevin P. Nerwinski told Patch.

In addition to masks, each visitor to municipal buildings will have their temperature taken, and they also have to sign in and provide their contact information. The municipal buildings are fitted with plexiglass barriers to keep employees safe as they interact with visitors.

“We are fortunate that our work environment allows for social distancing among our employees,” Nerwinski said.

The Centers for Disease Control said that all of New Jersey's 21 counties have entered "high" or "substantial" levels of coronavirus transmission as of Monday.

As a result, the CDC now recommends masks in workplaces, public buildings, and stores in areas of substantial or high spread, regardless of vaccination status.

Read More Here: Masks Now Recommended In All 21 NJ Counties, CDC Says

In Lawrence Township 95 percent of residents who are 65 years and older have been vaccinated, according to the state's COVID-19 dashboard. The vaccination rate among those who are aged 30 and above is 77 percent, and 69 percent of residents aged 18 and above have been vaccinated. Overall, the percentage of vaccinated residents in Lawrence Township is 59 percent.

However, the rapid spread of COVID-19's Delta variant is a cause of concern.

Read More Here: What New Jersey Should Know About Delta Variant Vaccinations

Read More Here: How New Jersey Ranks In New COVID-19 Hospitalizations

Read More Here: Mercer County Coronavirus Transmission 'Substantial': CDC

Many municipalities have reinstated their COVID-19 safety protocols, as the Delta variant spurs a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases across the country.

Princeton, Cinnaminson, Metuchen, Maplewood, and Teaneck are requiring employees and visitors to mask up when visiting any municipal building.

Meanwhile, East Brunswick is now requiring all township employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Under the township's new COVID-19 policy, getting the vaccine is now a “condition of employment.”

Read More Here: East Brunswick Requiring All Town Employees To Get COVID Vaccine

Nerwinski said there are no plans to mandate vaccines as a condition of employment “because it is still unclear whether or not it is lawful to do so.” The Township Manager said he strongly believes that the COVID-19 vaccines “are the key to beating this virus.”

The recent uptick in COVID-19 cases statewide also lead Gov. Phil Murphy to make two announcements last week.

On Aug. 6, he announced that students, educators, staff, and visitors in all NJ K-12 schools will have to wear masks when the school year begins in September. And then on Aug. 2, he announced a vaccine mandate for many health care workers throughout the state, with affected employees required to take regular COVID-19 tests if they're not fully vaccinated against the disease.

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