MORRIS COUNTY โ New Jersey no longer has a statewide universal directive requiring people in all healthcare facilities such as hospitals and doctorโs offices to wear masks to fightย COVID-19, Governor Phil Murphyย confirmed Monday as he defended the decision.
โWe have lifted these mandates,โ Murphy noted during his call-in TV show when a caller said he was โdeeply concernedโ about the move. โIt was a very important decision. We did not take it lightly.โ
Three years after the start of the pandemic, masks are optional in most locations in New Jersey โ unless individual businesses or facilities choose to require them.
In September, the CDCย ended its recommendation that masking be universal in healthcare settings and instead shifted toย a risk-based approach, with facilities recommended to require face coverings if there is a high level of community spread.
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