With School Mandate Ending, Where Are Masks Required In NJ?

NEW JERSEY — Come March 7, New Jersey will no longer require masks in K-12 schools, preschools and daycare centers.

The Garden State no longer mandates face coverings in most places. But even after March 7, there will still be some settings — and cities — where New Jerseyans still need to carry a mask because of mandates from the municipal to federal levels of government.

Here's where you'll still need to wear a mask.

Public Transit

Masks remain required on planes, trains, buses and other forms of public transportation within or out of the United States. The requirement extends to transportation hubs such as airports and train stations. But travelers don't have to mask up in outdoor areas, such as the open deck of a ferry or uncovered top deck of a bus.

Health Care Settings

Another federal mandate requires masks to be worn in health care settings such as hospitals, nursing homes and longterm-care facilities.

High-Risk Areas

Masks remain required in certain areas with a high risk of coronavirus spread, such as homeless shelters and correctional facilities. The New Jersey Department of Corrections also temporarily suspended visitation across all facilities because of the latest COVID-19 surge, according to the state's website.

State and Federal Buildings

The federal mandate also extends to federal properties.

While the state has ended most of its masking mandates, it still requires face coverings in state offices open to the public, such as New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission centers. The state is considering revisiting these mandates in the future, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday.

Certain Cities and Towns

Several New Jersey municipalities have their own mask requirements.

Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka extended Newark's indoor mask mandate to March 4. The city will also continue requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for certain establishments through at least Feb. 16.

Hoboken requires face coverings inside any public building or commercial establishment because of an executive order from the city's Office of Emergency Management signed in December and modified last month.

The city will lift its order when New Jersey gets below a 5 percent positivity rate for a one-week average or when Hoboken's daily case totals fall below the average of the first week of November. The state's positivity rate fell from 11.51 percent to 6.76 percent from Feb. 1 to Monday, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.

Additionally, Montclair Township Council voted to extend its mask mandate for indoor, public places through the end of March. Exceptions include athletic activities and performers at live events.

Individual Businesses and School Districts

The state will allow individual school districts and daycare facilities to maintain masking requirements after March 7. As schools and childcare centers await further guidance from the state health department, many are in the process of making decisions on future masking regulations.

Businesses can also continue to require face coverings for employees, customers and guests. Businesses are prohibited from restricting the use of masks.

Exceptions apply for children younger than 2, those who need to briefly remove masks for religious reasons and when wearing a mask would endanger one's health. See New Jersey's executive order for details.