Masks Now Recommended In All 21 NJ Counties, CDC Says

NEW JERSEY — Now it doesn't matter where you are in New Jersey. The Centers for Disease Control want you to wear a mask in indoor, public spaces.

All of New Jersey has "substantial" or "high" coronavirus transmission as of Monday, triggering a recommendation to mask up in such spaces. Last week, the agency only measured "moderate" spread in Warren County, which left it out of the masking guidance. But the CDC has since upgraded the area to "substantial" transmission.

The CDC recommends masks in workplaces, public buildings and stores in areas of substantial or high spread, regardless of vaccination status.

The agency reported high spread in Hunterdon, Monmouth, Ocean, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties — primarily in South Jersey. All other counties in New Jersey have substantial transmission, according to the CDC. See the latest data here.

Health officials determine the level of coronavirus transmission through the following criteria:

Masks remain a recommendation in most public settings unless mandated by whoever runs the facility. Some businesses require masks for either just employees or for customers, as well. Read more: Major Retailers Requiring Masks In New Jersey: See The List

New Jersey took additional public-health measures last week in efforts to slow the spread of the more-contagious delta variant, which accounts for 80 percent of New Jersey cases, according to CDC sequencing data.

State officials will require employees in health-care facilities and high-risk settings to get tested once or twice per week if they aren't fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Sept. 7. Gov. Phil Murphy also re-instituted mask requirements for all in K-12 schools.

"While this announcement gives us no pleasure, I know that by taking this precaution we can keep our schools open while also keeping our children safe," Murphy said Friday. "We will continue to closely monitor the science and data and will lift this mandate when we can do so safely. I urge those who are eligible for vaccination but have yet to be vaccinated to act and help move our state in the right direction."