Manchester Officials Reinstate Mask Requirement In Town Buildings

MANCHESTER, NJ — With the continuing surge in coronavirus cases in the area, Manchester Township officials have reinstated the requirement for masks to be worn in township buildings.

The township announced the requirement Tuesday in a post on the town's website.

"Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, a mask or face covering will be required for entry if you are visiting any Manchester Township Municipal building. This includes vaccinated and unvaccinated visitors. Thank you in advance for your cooperation," the notice said.

Coronavirus cases in the township, in Ocean County and statewide have been surging since early December, and in the last 10 days have risen sharply.

Since Dec. 23, Ocean County has had 9,054 new positive cases of the virus, including 576 in Manchester residents. There have been 22 deaths in Ocean County from complications of the virus in that time, though none of those were among Manchester residents.

Hospitalizations because of COVID-19 have risen significantly across New Jersey, with 5,155 people currently hospitalized as a result of the virus and 335 of them on ventilators.

In Ocean County, the hospitals are seeing the increase. At Ocean University Medical Center in Brick, 72 percent of its adult beds were occupied as of Dec. 30, according to data tracked by NPR; 20 percent of the total adult beds were occupied by people with COVID-19. Community Medical Center, 76 percent of the adult beds were occupied, 16 percent by COVID-19 patients.

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