TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy is expected to announce Monday that the requirement to wear masks indoors will be dropped by Memorial Day, sources reported.
NJ.com announced that an unnamed source revealed that the governor would make the announcement on Monday, May 23. WNBC referred to “a source within the governor’s office” who said that the indoor mask mandate would be dropped for people who have been vaccinated.
While other states have dropped mask mandates – and some never had them – New Jersey was one of the few that held on.
It’s important to note that some businesses might still require you to wear a mask as part of their terms, even though wearing a mask is not required by law. This would be done in the same way that they might enforce “no shirt, no service.”
Although people get a card that shows they have been vaccinated, Murphy had previously said that he would not force store employees to become cops and check everyone’s card for them to enter without a mask.
However, health experts have been warning two points since the state began opening up again. The first is that any step toward reopening is going to result in some kind of increase in cases – maybe small, maybe large. The second is that when regulations get dropped, it’s not necessarily because it’s safe, it’s just because there’s room in the hospital in case you do get sick.
The governor gives frequent press conferences on the status of the pandemic. Usually, big announcements come out on Monday.
The most recent big announcement was on May 16. He lifted the mask mandate for outside events effective immediately.
The virus has been known to transmit more easily indoors than outside.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” he said then.
Wearing a mask is a sign of respect for those around you, he said.
“This is not forever and always,” he said about wearing masks inside. “We just need more time on the clock.”
