Mask Optional Approach Planned To Continue At Warren Schools

WARREN, NJ — Administrators in the Warren Township School District are not making any changes just yet to its masking policy as the new school year approaches.

Superintendent Matthew Dr. Mingle gave a presentation at the last Board of Education meeting on July 19 outlining the district's school reopening plan which included removing mask requirement and travel exclusion requirements.

This plan remains in place as of Wednesday, according to Warren Spokeswoman Shannon Regan who referred Patch to this plan when asked about the district's masking plan for the fall.

As the delta variant spurs a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday recommended that people who are vaccinated and in areas at high risk for the coronavirus wear masks indoors.

On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy and state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli followed the CDC's recommendation and announced they "strongly recommend" masking in indoor settings for both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents due to increased risk. Read More: NJ Updates Mask Guidance After CDC Announcement

"Our metrics are trending in the wrong direction, and new data suggests the Delta variant is more transmissible even among vaccinated individuals, which is why we are making this strong recommendation," said Murphy and Persichilli in a joint statement.

Speaking during a news conference Monday, Murphy said he's not backing down on his stance that schools need to return to a fully in-person, five-day a week format in the fall. And while the state is not mandating the use of masks among unvaccinated students, school districts can choose to go beyond what the state is recommending, he said.

• See related: NJ Mask Mandates Guided By 'Local Realities,' Gov. Says
• See related: Delta Variant Continues Spread Despite NJ Vaccination Compliance

As of June 5, students and staff at Warren Township Schools were no longer be required to wear masks inside.

"The individual mask mandate will be removed for students and staff in school facilities. The official recommendation is for unvaccinated individuals to continue to wear masks indoors, however, individuals are permitted to make this decision for themselves as per the new [New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) and New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH)] guidance," said Mingle in a letter sent to the Warren community on June 2.

Mingle added that per order of the CDC, students and employees must continue wearing masks on school buses.

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The next Board of Education will be held on Aug. 23 at 7:30 p.m. online. However, the district is also hosting a Return To School Community meeting on Aug. 12 and 26.

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