Masks Required In Princeton Municipal Buildings Amid COVID Surge

PRINCETON, NJ — With COVID-19 cases surging across the state, Princeton has updated its COVID-19 guidance for municipal staff and buildings.

Mayor Mark Freda met with Princeton Health Officer Jeff Grosser on Thursday to discuss reinstating safety protocols as the Delta variant spurs a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases across the country.

Beginning Friday, all staff and visitors, unvaccinated and vaccinated, will have to wear masks at all municipal buildings. The township has now increased its sanitizing practices across all buildings. Restrooms will now be single-occupancy only. Princeton will also reinforce staff health screenings going forward.

“Our actions so far... are geared towards escalating preventative procedures,” Grosser told Patch.

“Our localized COVID-19 transmission is still considered ‘low’ however we are cognizant that the entire state is in moderate, and there are high transmission areas.”

The CDC on Aug. 1 said that all of New Jersey's 21 counties except one have now entered "high" or "substantial" levels of coronavirus transmission.

As of Aug. 2, Princeton reported 10 positive cases in the past seven days and 14 positive cases in the past 14 days.

Meanwhile, the vaccination rate in Princeton is 94 percent among those 65 and older, 76 percent among 18 and older, and 76 percent among those who are 12 years and older.

However, the rapid spread of the delta variant is a cause of concern

“As we have seen the unpredictable nature of the delta variant, we are working towards increasing existing precautions to thwart workplace exposures,” Grosser said.

Health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently warned of rising coronavirus case numbers in New Jersey driven by the contagious delta variant.

Read More Here: COVID Hospitalizations Spike In NJ As Delta Variant Spreads

Read More Here: Driven By Delta Variant, COVID Cases Quadruple In NJ

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

Read More Here: Face Masks Should Be Worn In Nearly All NJ Counties, CDC Says

Mercer County has a "substantial" level of coronavirus transmission as of Aug. 3, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 54 new cases per 100,000 residents between July 27 and Aug. 2.

The CDC recommended mask-wearing at all workplaces, public buildings, and stores for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.

Princeton isn’t the only township in New Jersey to reinstate mask mandates at municipal buildings.

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

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