NJ keeping mask mandate after CDC says vaccinated people don’t need it

UPDATE: Gov. Murphy says we're 'not there yet' on lifting masks because you can't tell who's vaccinated

Don't ditch the mask in New Jersey yet.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says if you have been fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask. Indoors or outdoors. Even in close contact.

But the CDC does not make law or public policy. They only make recommendations.

For now, New Jersey's mask mandate imposed by Gov. Phil Murphy through executive order remains in effect. Murphy has been reluctant to ease mask mandates, and his office is reviewing the new CDC guidance.

A spokesman for the governor told New Jersey 101.5, “Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Health are reviewing the new CDC guidance on masking requirements. We continue to move forward in our efforts to vaccinate all willing and eligible individuals who live, work, or study in New Jersey.”

New York state and New York City did not change their mask policies after the CDC issued the new recommendations. Pennsylvania (except for Philadelphia) is relaxing mask rules, but Gov. Tom Wolf ordered the mask mandate to remain in effect for non-vaccinated individuals until 70% of the adult population is fully vaccinated.

Despite no change in the mask mandate, Murphy did formally sign the executive order that will repeal most of the remaining pandemic restrictions effective May 19.

“With COVID-19 metrics trending in the right direction amidst substantial progress on our COVID-19 vaccination program," Murphy said in a statement, "We can move forward with these significant steps towards a return to normalcy.”

From the Office of the Governor:

The following changes will take effect on Wednesday, May 19, by Executive Order 239:

• Complete removal of outdoor gathering limit– Attendees at outdoor gatherings will still be required to remain six feet apart from other groups and existing requirements regarding mask wearing will remain in place.
• Indoor gathering limit– The limit for indoor gatherings in private residences will be raised to 50 persons, up from 25 persons. Commercial gatherings and gatherings organized and operated by an overseeing entity (e.g. conferences, expositions, meetings of fraternal organizations, job training, events hosted by senior centers) in public spaces will be subject to the 250-person indoor gathering limit that applies to indoor catered events, as long as all attendees can remain six feet apart.
• Complete removal of all percentage capacity limits for indoor and outdoor businesses, and houses of worship – The following businesses will no longer be subject to any percentage-based capacity restriction, but will instead be guided by the rule regarding six feet of distance between persons or groups of persons.

This would include:

• Indoor dining – Currently, indoor dining is limited to 50% capacity. This change will remove the 50% limitation but maintain the six feet of required distance between tables, except that tables will still be permitted to be closer than six feet where restaurants use partitions that comply with DOH requirements. Additionally, the prohibition on tables of more than 8 persons will be lifted. As a reminder, outdoor dining has never been bound to a capacity percentage.
• Houses of worship and religious services, which are currently at 50% capacity.
  Retail businesses, which are currently at 50% indoor capacity.
• Gyms, which are currently at 50% indoor capacity.
• Personal care services, which are currently at 50% indoor capacity.
• Indoor amusement and recreation businesses and outdoor amusement and water parks, which are currently limited to 50% capacity.
• Indoor and outdoor pools, which are both currently limited to 50% capacity.
• Indoor catered events, funerals, memorial services, performances, and political activities – These events are currently limited to 50% of a room's capacity, up to 250 individuals. Beginning on Wednesday, May 19, the 250-person limit will remain in place, but there will be no percentage-based capacity restrictions. Individuals and groups will need to remain six feet apart.
• Indoor large venue capacity – The capacity limit for indoor large venues will increase from 20% to 30% and the definition of a large venue would shift from those with 2,500 fixed seats to those with 1,000 fixed seats. The requirement that individuals or groups of individuals that purchase tickets together remain six feet apart will remain in place.
• Removal of prohibition on indoor interstate youth sports competitions – Athletes, staff, and spectators will still need to abide by all existing health and safety requirements.

More NJ Top News for May 14:

• Job openings hit record levels, but 44% of businesses say they have jobs they cannot fill.
• 13,000 new claims for unemployment in NJ last week. A sign few are reentering the workforce.
• New Hampshire is the first Northeast state to announce it will end the $300 unemployment supplement.
• For the first time since the earliest stages of the pandemic more than a year ago, hospitalizations have dropped below 1,000 in NJ.
• Vaccination centers across the Garden State have opened their doors to kids as young as 12.
• The Paterson teachers union is still refusing to allow teachers back into classrooms.
• A bill moving through the senate would let retired teachers return to the classroom and collect a salary and pension at the same time.
• Only 2 Kmart stores remain in NJ as another closes.
• Former Gov. Christie Whitman is among a coalition telling republicans to ditch Donald Trump, or else they'll form a new party.
• Trump to host $250,000 a plate fundraiser at his Bedminster Golf Club.

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