Masks Mandatory In Ridgewood Buildings As COVID Spreads

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — Masks are again mandatory in village buildings, Ridgewood officials announced over the holiday break.

The mandate went into effect on Dec. 30.

"For everyone’s safety, masks must be worn by both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons entering all Village buildings," officials said.

This comes as COVID-19 cases have been rising rapidly, and testing shortages have only heightened anxiety around the virus again.

There were 238 cases of the coronavirus reported in Bergen County on Dec. 1, according to New Jersey Department of Health data. Much like the rest of the state, that number spiked, with 1,942 cases reported on Christmas.

The number has gone down slightly, with 1,594 cases reported on Dec. 28, but there are other issues facing the region and the state.

Hospitalizations, as well as people on ventilators, are up in the North region of the state. Though neither of those numbers have risen higher than January of last year, they are close. There were 1,643 hospitalizations on Dec. 29, 2020, and 1,546 on Dec. 28, 2021.

State officials aren't currently requiring face masks indoors — only "recommending" that people wear them. But in recent weeks, several municipalities in North Jersey have gone a step beyond, reviving local indoor mask mandates as cases of COVID-19 rise.

Read more: Mask Mandates Return To New Jersey As COVID Spreads